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Clinical Science
P2.11 Association between genital herpes simpex virus type-2 shedding and presence of bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria
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  1. Christine Johnston1,
  2. Amalia Magaret2,
  3. Krista Yuhas1,
  4. Sujatha Srinivasan3,
  5. Sean Proll1,
  6. James P Hughes1,
  7. Christina M Kohler3,
  8. Dana Varon1,
  9. Thepthara N Pholsena1,
  10. Jeanne M Marrazzo4,
  11. David N Fredricks2,
  12. Anna Wald2
  1. 1University of Washington, USA
  2. 2University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre, USA
  3. 3Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre, USA
  4. 4University of Alabama, USA

Abstract

Introduction Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection increases the risk of bacterial vaginosis (BV). We hypothesised that the biologic mechanism of this association is that genital HSV-2 shedding increases inflammation, resulting in increased presence and quantity of BV-associated bacteria (BVAB).

Methods HSV-2 seropositive women with a clinical history of BV in the past 12 months collected daily genital swabs for HSV detection and vaginal swabs for Nugent score and analysis of the microbiome for 28 days. BV was defined as Nugent score>=7. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) with species specific primers for Lactobacillus crispatus, L. iners, L. jensenii, Gardnerella vaginalis,Megasphaera and BVAB-2 were performed. HSV was detected using real-time qPCR. The presence of each bacterial species was compared on days with and without HSV shedding using Poisson regression.

Results Forty-eight women (median age 40; 48% white) with a median of 2 genital HSV-2 recurrences in the prior year (range 0–12) were enrolled for a total of 1277 days of observation. Genital HSV shedding was detected on 134 (10%) days. Of 960 days with Nugent score available, BV was present on 351 (37%) days. The risk of BV was not significantly different in the presence of HSV shedding (RR=0.84, 95% CI=0.66–1.07). Several bacterial species appeared to be detected more frequently on days with HSV shedding as compared to days without shedding (L. crispatus: 53% vs. 44%, L. jensenii: 56% vs. 49%, Megasphaera: 58% vs. 41%, BVAB-2: 49% vs. 37% of days, respectively), although these findings were not statistically significant. The study is 80% completed; data for at least 12 additional women is anticipated, which will provide additional statistical power.

Conclusion Genital HSV-2 shedding may be associated with dynamic shifts in the vaginal microbial community and may increase the presence of BVAB. A study to assess whether the use of suppressive treatment for HSV (daily valacyclovir) decreases the presence of BVAB, or BV (twice weekly metronidazole) decreases HSV shedding, is ongoing.

https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2017-053264.188

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