Bacterial Load of Gardnerella spp. and Fannyhessea vaginae and Its Association with Cervicovaginal Inflammatory Cytokine Responses Across Vaginal Microbiota Patterns

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal dysbiosis characterized by the depletion of Lactobacillus species and the overgrowth of facultative anaerobic bacteria, particularly Gardnerella spp. and Fannyhessea vaginae. The vaginal microbiota plays a key role in local immune modulation, and BV has been associated with a molecular pro-inflammatory profile. This study included 152 women with normal microbiota (n = 68), intermediate microbiota (n = 24), or BV (n = 60). Vaginal lavage samples were used to quantify Gardnerella spp. and F. vaginae and to measure IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α levels. Bacterial loads of Gardnerella spp. were significantly higher in the BV group than in normal microbiota (p < 0.001). F. vaginae loads were higher in BV than in both normal and intermediate microbiota (p < 0.001). IL-1β levels were increased in intermediate microbiota (p = 0.011) and BV (p = 0.024) compared with normal microbiota, while CXCL-8 levels were higher in intermediate microbiota (p = 0.021). No differences were observed for IL-6, IL-10, or TNF-α. BV is associated with increased Gardnerella spp. and F. vaginae loads and a selective increase in IL-1β, supporting a distinct inflammatory signature linked to vaginal dysbiosis.