Bacterial communities in penile skin, male urethra, and vaginas of heterosexual couples with and without bacterial vaginosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis (BV) suggests it is sexually transmissible, yet no transmissible agent has been identified. It is probable that BV-associated bacterial communities are transferred from male to female partners during intercourse; however, the microbiota of sexual partners has not been well-studied.

Results

Pyrosequencing analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA was used to examine BV-associated bacteria in monogamous couples with and without BV using vaginal, male urethral, and penile skin specimens. The penile skin and urethral microbiota of male partners of women with BV was significantly more similar to the vaginal microbiota of their female partner compared to the vaginal microbiota of non-partner women with BV. This was not the case for male

SUBMITTER: Zozaya M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4835890 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature