title: Molecular detection of Lactobacillus species in the neovagina of male-to-female transsexual women.
abstract: There is a general opinion that penile skin lined neovagina of transsexual women is not able to support the growth of lactobacilli. This study was undertaken to prove if lactobacilli strains could survive in neovagina and to characterise the most dominant Lactobacillus species. Sixty three male-to-female transsexual women without abnormal vaginal discharge, clinical signs of infection were recruited on an ongoing basis from among transsexual outpatients in an academic research institution and tertiary care centre. Neovaginal smears were taken for molecular Lactobacillus spp. profiling by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Lactobacillus species were detected from 47/63 transsexual women (75%). The 279 Lactobacillus signals detected by PCR-DGGE technique belonged to 13 different species. Lactobacilli of the L. delbrueckii group (L. gasseri, L. crispatus, L. johnsonii, L. iners, L. jensenii) were predominant. More than 90% of women harboured a combination of two or more neovaginal Lactobacillus species. In this study we report the frequent occurrence of lactobacilli from neovagina of transsexual women. Both, frequency and composition were similar to the normal lactic acid bacterial microflora in both women of reproductive age and postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ljubomir
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petricevic
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Konrad J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Domig
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kraler
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marschalek
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kneifel
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044822:Biodiversity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D008875:Middle Aged; D063106:Transgender Persons; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*