Streptococcus agalactiae, known as Streptococcus Group B (GBS), is a facultative gram-positive coccus, isolated for the first time from mastitis, and since 1970s it is known as a serious cause of some human diseases [1] in the regions such as rectum, vagina, and urinary tracts of the pregnant as well as non-pregnant healthy people. It cannot cause disease under normal conditions but can be fatal in the elderly and those who bear weak immune system [2]. The bacterium causes pneumonia, bacteremia, sepsis, fetal obstetric infections, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and meningitis [3]. The importance of this bacterium has been determined since 1970s due to its lethal infections mostly affecting newborns [4, 5]. In infants, GBS diseases are classified into two groups: early-onset diseases (EODs) and late-onset diseases (LODs). EODs appear in the first week of birth but LODs emerge between the second and third months. In pregnant women, infections resulting from this bacterium increases the risk of EODs in the newborns [6]. Different investigation have revealed that 11-30% of pregnant women carry the GBS species in their vagina and about 50-70% of their infant take up the bacterium during labor or birth [7]. Epidemiological studies in the city of Yazd have demonstrated that about 15-20% of pregnant women are carriers of GBS in their vagina [8, 9]. Recent reports have shown that approximately 4% of the infants born from contaminated mother are at risk of infection as sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia [9]. There are several factors involved in the pathogenicity of the GBS. Capsular polysaccharide is one of the most important virulence factors which activates host C3 complement on the surface and inhibits opsonization phagocytosis [10]. Based on antigenic properties of GBS capsule, the bacterium has been categorized into ten serotypes: Ia, Ib and II- IX [10]. Epidemiological surveys around the world have indicated that distribution of GBS serotypes are geographically different. The majority of investigations regarding GBS serotypes have indicated that serotype III is the most predominant. In a study conducted by Sadeh et al. in Yazd it was revealed that 50% of the GBS detected from 650 vaginal swab samples were serotype III, followed by serotypes II, Ia, V and Ib [9].
The aim of this study was as follows:
- Identifying serotypes of GBS detected from both vagina and urine of the pregnant women
- Comparing vaginal serotypes and urine GBS serotypes to explore the similarity between the type of GBS in vagina and urinary tract system
- Representing the sensitivity of urine sample for GBS detection
Materials and Methods
Sample obtaining and culture
The present cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2015 to December 2016. All ethical issues were considered and approved by the Ethics Committee of Shahid Sadoughi university of medical sciences, Yazd, Iran. A total of 346 vaginal and urine samples were collected from the same pregnant women referring to Mojibiyan Hospital, Seyyedoshohada Clinic, and Baghayipour Clinic (Yazd, Iran). The samples were transferred to microbiology laboratory of Shahid Sadoughi university of medical sciences immediately. Consequently, demographic information including age and number of pregnancies were asked and recorded in an answer sheet. It is important to note that those cases who had used antibiotic for at least 10 days prior to sample collection were removed from the study.
Bacteria identification
All samples were inoculated on sheep blood agar medium (Liofilchem, Italy) and incubated at 35°C. About 18-24 hours after incubation, the suspected β-hemolysis colonies were selected for gram staining. Gram positive coccus was further tested for final GBS identification using catalase, CAMP (Christie-Atkins-Munch-Petersen) and hyporate hydrolysis tests. Then the isolated GBS were stored at -20°C for further molecular examination.
Genomic DNA extraction
Salting-out method was used for genomic DNA extraction [11]. Then the quality and quantity of extracted DNA was measured using 0.7% agarose gel electrophoresis and nanodraop respectively. The product was kept in -20 °C for further examining.
Molecular detection of GBS
Molecular detection for GBS isolates were performed based on Poyart et al. work [12] using the specific primer pairs of dlts-F and dlts-R (Table 1, Pishgam Biotech Company). Three microliter of template DNA was used as a template in a final volume of 20 µl of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mixture containing the following: 4.5 µl of water, 10 µl of 2X PCR Master Mix (Amplicon, Denmark), and 2.5 µl of primer with final concentration of 10 pmol. Amplification was processed in an automated PCR machine (Eppendorf, Germany) as follows: One cycle initial denaturation for 300 seconds at 94°C followed by 30 cycles at 94°C for 60 seconds, 55°C for 60 seconds, and 72°C for 60 seconds. The final extension was performed with 72°C for 300 seconds. Simultaneously, all reference GBS species were directed to PCR as control. All serotypes of GBS as reference were kindly dedicated by Prof. Kong from Center of Infectious Diseases, New South Wales in Australia.
Molecular serotyping using multiplex-PCR
Detected GBS isolates were serotyped using multiplex-PCR with specific primers (Table 1) [12]. Molecular serotyping was performed using two sets of multiplex PCR reactions (Table 1, Pishgam Biotech Company): amplification of both multiplex reactions with the final volume of 20 µl for PCR reaction (2 μl of water, 10 μl of 2X PCR Master Mix) (Amplicon, Denmark), 5 μl of working primers with final concentration of 10 pmol, and template DNA (3 μl). Amplification was carried out with thermocycler (Eppendorf, Germany). The thermal profile for serotype Ia-V was as follows: 94°C for 300 seconds as initial denaturation for one cycle, 94°C for 60 seconds, 49.9°C for 60 seconds, and 72°C for 60 seconds, for 35 cycles, with a final extension at 72°C for 300 seconds. On the other hand, the thermal profile for serotype V-VIII was as follow: 94°C for 300 seconds as initial denaturation for one cycle, 94°C for 60 seconds, 60°C for 60 seconds, and 72°C for 60 seconds, for 35 cycles, with a final extension at 72°C for 300 seconds. One percent agarose gel electrophoresis was performed on PCR products and sequenced for further confirmation.
Table 1. Capsular polysaccharide type-specific primers and amplicon size of PCR products
Primer name |
Sequence |
Gene target (s) |
Amplicon size (s), bp |
Ia-F |
GGTCAGACTGGATTAATGGTATGC |
cps1aH |
521 and 1,826 |
Ia-R |
GTAGAAATAGCCTATATACGTTGAATGC |
cps1aH |
|
Ib-F |
TAAACGAGAATGGAATATCACAAACC |
cps1bJ |
770 |
Ib-R |
GAATTAACTTCAATCCCTAAACAATATCG |
cps1bK |
|
II-F |
GCTTCAGTAAGTATTGTAAGACGATAG |
cps2K |
397 |
II-R |
TTCTCTAGGAAATCAAATAATTCTATAGGG |
cps2K |
|
III-F |
TCCGTACTACAACAGACTCATCC |
cps1a/2/3I |
1,826 |
III-R |
AGTAACCGTCCATACATTCTATAAGC |
cps1a/2/3J |
|
IV-F |
GGTGGTAATCCTAAGAGTGAACTGT |
cps4N |
578 |
IV-R |
AGTAACCGTCCATACATTCTATAAGC |
cps4N |
|
V-F |
GAGGCCAATCAGTTGCACGTAA |
cps5O |
701 |
V-R |
AACCTTCTCCTTCACACTAATCCT |
cps5O |
|
VI-F |
GGACTTGAGATGGCAGAAGGTGAA |
cps6I |
487 |
VI-R |
CTGTCGGACTATCCTGATGAATCTC |
cps6I |
|
VII-F |
CCTGGAGAGAACAATGTCCAGAT |
cps7M |
371 |
VII-R |
GCTGGTCGTGATTTCTACACA |
cps7M |
|
VIII-F |
AGGTCAACCACTATATAGCGA |
cps8J |
282 |
VIII-R |
TCTTCAAATTCCGCTGACTT |
cps8J |
|
dlts-F |
AGGAATACCAGGCGATGAACCGAT |
dltS |
952 |
dlts-R |
TGCTCTAATTCTCCCCTTATGGC |
dltS |
|
Statistical analysis
Chi-square test was performed by SPSS software (Ver. 16) for statistical analysis. P<0.05 was considered as significant.
Results
Frequency of GBS among pregnant women
Out of 346 samples collected separately from both vagina and urine, 57 samples (16.47%) of vagina and 33 samples (9.5%) of urine were positive for GBS.
GBS serotyping
As Figures 1 and 2 indicate, following multiplex-PCR, serotypes Ia, Ib, II, III and V were detected from both vagina and urine samples. Note that, serotypes IV, VI, VII and VIII were not detected in this study. Results obtained from multiplex-PCR among vaginal isolates revealed that 54.4% of GBS were serotype III; and prevalence of serotypes Ia, Ib, II, and V were as 12.3%, 3.5%, 26.3%, and 3.5%, respectively (Fig. 3). In urine isolates, the frequency of serotype III was 51.5%, and for Ia, Ib, II, and V serotypes, it was 21.2%, 6.1%, 18.2%, and 3% respectively. The remaining serotypes (IV, VI, VII, and VIII) were not found in the
tested samples.
Correlation between the GBS serotypes with age, number, and month of pregnancy
By grouping the cases into <30 and ≥30 in terms of age; first, second and more than second in terms of the number(s) of pregnancy; as well as the first 4.5 months and the second 4.5 months in terms of the months of pregnancy, our result showed no significant correlation between the age of pregnancy (p=0.41 for urine isolates, and p=0.13 for vaginal isolates), number of pregnancy (p=0.51 for urine isolates, and p=0.95 for vaginal isolates), and months of pregnancy (p=0.86 for urine isolates, and p=0.37 for vaginal isolates) with serotypes.
Correlation between GBS serotypes detected from vaginal and urine
The association between different vaginal and urine serotypes was investigated here. Out of 346 pregnant women, 26 were GBS positive for both vaginal and urine samples, and in all cases, the urine isolates serotypes were approximately the same as vaginal serotypes. Seven serotypes Ia were found in urine samples whereas only 5 were detected in the same women's vaginal samples. However, the 2 remaining serotypes were identified as II (Fig. 4.). Chi-square test showed that urine and vaginal isolates serotypes are significantly correlated (p=0.000).
Discussion
In the present study, 346 vaginal and urine samples were collected from pregnant women in Yazd (Iran). Following inoculation, their serotypes were identified. Most of GBS carrying women were under 30 years old (data have not shown). The frequency of GBS among vaginal samples was 16.47%, while for urine sample was 9.53%. The result is in line with that of Absalan et al. (2013). These investigations demonstrated the prevalence of GBS in the 15 to 40 year-old pregnant women who had referred to Healthcare Center of Yazd to be 19.6% [8]. The prevalence of GBS among pregnant women differs in various countries. Moreover, due to cultural differences, even the age of GBS infected pregnant women varies in different regions. In a study conducted by Rausch et al. (2009) in Sweden, the prevalence of GBS was found to be 21% [13] while in the report by Lu et al. taken place in China, the prevalence amounted to 7.1% [14]. Similar research conducted by Busetti et al. (2007) in Italy revealed the prevalence of GBS up to 17.9% [15]. In addition to geographical location and cultural differences, the use of antibiotics may also induce such differences.
In the present study, 51.5% of the urine GBS isolates were found to be serotype III, followed by Ia (21.2%), II (18.2%), Ib (6.1%) and V (3%). Serotype IV, VI, VII, and VIII were not found. In addition, results of vaginal isolates revealed that serotype III is the most prevalent one followed by serotype II, Ia, Ib, and V by frequency of 26.3%, 12.3%, 3.5%, and 3.5%, respectively. In vaginal isolates like urine isolates, serotypes IV, VI, VII, and VIII were not found at all. However, Rahnama et al. [16] showed that the most dominant serotype of GBS in Tehran population is serotype III (by frequency of 50%) followed by serotype V (16%), serotype Ia (14%) and serotype II (14%). The prevalence of serotype III in our study was the same as that of this study, but serotype V was more prevalent in Rahnama's study (
3.5% vs. 16%). Serotypes Ia and II were more prevalent in our study than the others (2-3 times). The differences may be dependent upon the source of samples as urine, vagina and semen. Janati et al. [17] showed that the prevalence of different serotypes of GBS in recto-vaginal samples of Ardabil is as follow: Serotype V (19.6%), III (12.5%), VI (10.7%), Ib (8.9%), VII (5.3%), and VIII (3.5%). The results of our study is not consistent with this study. Based on Janati's research [17], the prevalence of serotype III is relatively low (10.7%). Serotype V was the most prevalent serotype in Ardabil population (19.6%) while in our study, serotype V had a very low prevalence (
3%). Serotype IV was not found in our study as well as that of Absalan's et al. [8] but it was found to be prevalent in that of Janati's et al (12.5%) [17]. In addition, serotype VI and VIII were also found in Ardabil population which was not consonant with that of ours as well as Absalan's. Overal, our results are consistent with Absalan's et al. [8], both carried out in Yazd, but being in contrast with the study of Janati et al. [17]. Besides geographical location, these differences may be due to the type of study. In this study PCR technique was used whereas Janati's et al. [17] work was performed using serological method which is less sensitive compared to molecular techniques [9, 12, 16]
In addition, studies of Florindo et al. [18] carried out in Portugal, showed that serotype III, Ia, and V are the most prevalent serotypes, followed by serotypes II, IV, and Ib. Serotype VI and VIII were not found in this study. Comparing these results with those of ours, it was revealed that prevalence of serotype III and Ia is relatively the same in these two countries but serotype V is more prevalent in Portugal.
Interestingly, in a recent study by Sadeh et al. [9] which was also carried out in Yazd, the prevalence of GBS in pregnant and non-pregnant women amounted to 15.6%. In addition, serotype III was the most prevalent serotype (52%) followed by serotype II, Ia, V and Ib by frequency of 20, 16.7, 6.7, and 6.7%, respectively. This study is strongly consistent with that of ours.
In the last part of our study, the correlation between different urine and vaginal isolates was assessed. Out of 346 pregnant women, 26 women were positive for both urine and vaginal samples. Our analysis revealed that there is a strong correlation between vagina and urine serotypes (p=0.000). According to the present data, all urine serotypes were correlated with vaginal serotype, except vaginal serotype II which was identified Ia in 40% of urine isolates.
Conclusions
This study highlighted that the GBS isolates form both urine and vagina of pregnant women are the same serotypes. However, this study together with few other investigations [8, 9] in our microbiology department have provided valuable information regarding both prevalence and serotype epidemiology of GBS in pregnant and non-pregnant women in the city of Yazd. These data may be efficient enough for GBS conjugate vaccine against serotype III, II, Ia, V and Ib.
Conflicts of Interest
We declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Anahita Nazari, Hesamodin Mokhtari, Fatemeh Dadfarnia and Mahdiye Mojibiyan for their kindly contribution to this project.
References