Subtype Distribution of in Pregnant Women and Analysis of Possible Risk Factors.

OBJECTIVE

Since the identification of subtypes (ST) in the last decade, much has been learned about the genetic diversity of isolates in different populations, except pregnant women. The objective of this study is to investigate the genetic diversity of in pregnant women and analyse some demographic factors.

METHODS

The faecal samples from 100 pregnant women were collected at an Obstetrics and Gynecology Department in Muğla, Turkey. Thereafter, positivity was detected by direct microscopy and culture. The positive cultures were subjected to DNA isolation, and the barcode region was amplified with polymerase chain reaction. Next, the sequences were queried against GenBank nucleotide and STs (18S) databases.

RESULTS

was detected in 14% (14 out of 100) of the faecal samples by culture and 10% (10 out of 100) of the samples by direct microscopy. Nine of isolates (64.4%) were ST3, three (21.4%) were ST1 and two (14.2%) were ST2. Neither the demographic features nor the gastrointestinal symptoms were statistically related to infection.

CONCLUSION

The findings in this study agreed with the most of the previous human studies that found ST3 as the most abundant genotype. This study reported the frequency of in pregnant women and highlighted the importance of comprehensive studies with more cases of during pregnancy.