RESUMEN

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la influencia del nacimiento por vía vaginal en comparación con el nacimiento por cesárea sobre el contenido de bacterias acidolácticas con características probióticas de los recién nacidos. Se evaluaron muestras de meconio de recién nacidos por vía vaginal y por cesárea que fueron debidamente enriquecidas, sembradas e incubadas. Las colonias resultantes fueron identificadas para ser sometidas a tolerancia de sales biliares, pH ácido y fermentación. Se obtuvo un mayor desa rrollo de colonias en meconio de nacidos por vía vaginal en comparación con los nacidos por cesárea (p<0,001). Se aislaron 48 cepas en total, siendo en su gran mayoría tolerantes a sales biliares y pH ácido; asimismo, la fermentación de lactosa en leche fue positiva. Este estudio respalda hallazgos previos que sustentan que el nacimiento por vía vaginal favorece al mayor, desarrollo de bacterias acidolácticas con características probióticas, en comparación con el nacimiento por cesárea, y destaca la presencia de bac terias del género Lactobacillus.

Palabras claves:
Microbiota; Neonato; Parto Normal; Cesárea

ABSTRACT

The study’s objective was to determine the influence of vaginal birth compared to cesarean birth on the content of lactic acid bacteria with probiotic characteristics from newborns. Vaginal and cesarean sec tion meconium samples of lactic acid were evaluated, which were duly enriched, seeded and incubated. The resulting colonies were identified to be subjected to bile salt tolerance, acid pH, and fermentation. A greater development of meconium colonies was obtained in those born vaginally compared to those born by caesarean section (p <0.001). A total of 48 strains were isolated, the majority being tolerant to bile salts and acid pH; likewise, the fermentation of lactose in milk was positive. This study supports previous findings that support vaginal birth favors the greatest development of lactic acid bacteria with probiotic characteristics, compared to cesarean birth, and highlights the presence of bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus.

Keywords:
Microbiota; Newborn; Natural Childbirth; Cesarean Section

INTRODUCTION

Lactic acid bacteria have beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of disease, especially in infants and children. Research has shown the presence of this bacteria in meconium and in the umbilical cord blood of healthy neonates ¹1. Harmsen HJM, Wildeboer-Veloo ACM, Raangs GC, Wagendorp AA, Klein N, Bondels JG, et al. Analysis of intestinal flora development in breast-fed infants by using molecular identification and detection methods. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2000;30(1):61-7., and it has also been shown that even term fetuses are not microbiologically sterile ²2. Jiménez EA. Fuentes de bacterias para la colonización del intestino del neonato: aplicación para el tratamiento de la mastitis lactacionales. [Tesis Doctoral]. Madrid: Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 2010 [citado el 20 de junio de 2017]. Disponible en https://eprints.ucm.es/10063/1/T31541.pdf.. The type of delivery (vaginal or cesarean section), the type of feeding (breast milk or formula) and even the intimate contact between mother and child are factors that, to a large extent, influence on the content of the intestinal microbiota.

The genera belonging to the natural microbiota of the intestine are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which develop differently depending on the type of delivery. The presence of these bacteria has been reported in the meconium of 10-days-old newborns born vaginally; and in 30-days-old newborns delivered by cesarean section ⁽³3. Grönlund MM, Lehtonen OP, Ferola E, Kero P. Fecal microflora in healthy infants born by different methods of delivery: permanent changes in intestinal flora after cesarean delivery. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1999;28(1):19-25.. In addition, colonization by lactobacilli in vaginal births occurs in a higher proportion (59%), compared to those born by cesarean section (4%). The latter are colonized more often by Clostridium difficile, bacteria that are normally found in the digestive system of people who are hospitalized or treated with antibiotics ⁴4. Mitsou EK, Kirtzalidou E, Oikonomou I, Liosis G, Kyriacou A. Fecal microflora of Greek healthy neonates. Anaerobe. 2008;14(2):94-101. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2007.11.002.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anaerobe.2007.... .

During a cesarean delivery, the transmission of bacteria from the mother to the newborn is interrupted, which normally occurs through the vaginal route. This leads to an increase in diseases, such as celiac disease ⁵5. Marild K, Stephansson O, Montgomery S, Murray JA, Ludvigsson JF. Pregnancy outcome and risk of celiac disease in offspring: a nationwide case-control study. Gastroenterology. 2012;142:39-45. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2011.09.047.
https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2011.09... , type 1 diabetes ⁶6. Aumeunier A, Grela F, Ramadan A, Pham Van L, Bardel E, Gomez Alcala A, et al. Systemic Toll-like receptor stimulation suppresses experimental allergic asthma and autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. PLoS ONE. 2010;5(7):e11484. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011484.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.001... ⁾ and obesity ⁷7. Blustein J, Attina T, Liu M, Ryan AM, Cox LM, Blaser MJ, et al. Association of caesarean delivery with child adiposity from age 6 weeks to 15 years. Int J Obes (Lond). 2013;37(7):900-6. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2013.49.
https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.49... . In Peru, the Ministry of Health reported that in 2015, births by cesarean section reached 34.5% of total births, and nine regions had above-average values, including Tumbes (49.8%), Tacna (47.2%) and Lima (42.8%).

Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine whether the type of birth, vaginal or by cesarean section, influences the content of lactic acid bacteria with probiotic potential, found in the meconium of human neonates.

THE STUDY

Sample collection

Analytical observational study. During four months, 60 samples of meconium were randomly collected from human neonates from zero to three days old, from the National Institute of Perinatal Maternity (INMP) in Lima, 30 samples corresponding to vaginal deliveries and 30 to cesarean sections. Thirty samples were considered for each group of neonates, since the average number of births per day at the INMP is 60.

Bacteria isolation

For pre-fortification, 18 ml of Man-Rogosa-Sharp (MRS) broth (Germany, Merck) was added to 2 g of meconium in sterile bottles, which were incubated at 37 ºC for 24 hours ⁸8. Moreno R, Salas EJ, Pérez CI, Jiménez J. Evaluación del potencial probiótico de Lactobacilos aislado de heces de lactantes y leche materna. Rev Fac Med ULA. 2011;20(1):135-9.⁾ in a private clinical laboratory. The samples were then seeded in duplicate on MRS agar plates for lactic acid bacteria (Germany, Merck) adjusted to pH 5,5 and incubated at 37 °C for 24-48 hours in microaerobiosis. Afterwards, the samples were subjected to Gram staining, spore detection and catalase test for spore free Gram-positive bacilli; in addition, white and creamy colonies were counted considering the corresponding characteristics of color, size, shape and appearance ⁹9. Kandler O, Weiss G. Regular nonsporing Gram positives rods. En: Sneath PHA, Mair NS, Sharpe ME, Holt JG, editors. Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Vol 2. Baltimore: Maryland; 1986. pp. 1208-60.. Subsequently, two colonies of non-sporulated Gram-positive bacteria and negative catalase were selected ¹⁰10. Mejía-Rodríguez JA, Chacón-Rueda Z, Guerrero-Cárdenas B, Ottoniel-Rojas J, López-Corcuera G. Obtención de cepas de Lactobacillus: Caracterización in vitro como posible potencial probiótico. Rev Cientif. 2007;17(2):178-85., isolated on MRS and modified MRS agar and incubated at 37 °C for 24-48 hours in microaerobiosis. The isolated strains were then inoculated into MRS broth tubes and incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours, and then centrifuged at 8000 g for five minutes. Finally, the supernatant was removed and 1 ml of MRS broth and 40% glycerol were added for storage at -80 °C.

Bile salt tolerance

The test was conducted at the Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory of the Faculty of Zootechnics of Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM)). The test used 0.5 ml of inoculum activated for 18 hours in MRS broth, which was then added to tubes containing 0.3% of bovine bile salts (New Zealand, Sigma) and 4.5 ml of MRS broth; which was incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours ¹¹11. Lara C, Burgos A. Potencial probiótico de cepas nativas para uso como aditivos en la alimentación avícola. Rev Colomb Biotecnol. 2012;14(1):31-40.. The samples were read in a spectrophotometer at 600 nm (Genesys 10S UV-VIS model, Thermo Scientific), and the results, expressed as optical density. In addition, the percentage of survival (R) was calculated by the ratio of the log CFU/ml of both. The sample with bile salts, and the sample without ¹²12. Sánchez L, Omura M, Lucas A, Pérez T, Llanes M, Luce C. Cepas de Lactobacillus spp. Con capacidades probióticas aisladas del tracto intestinal de terneros neonatos. Rev Salud Anim. 2015;37(2):94-104..

Acid pH tolerance

0,5 ml of inoculum was added to tubes in aliquots of 4,5 ml of MRS broth at pH 3,0 acidified with 6M HCl ¹¹11. Lara C, Burgos A. Potencial probiótico de cepas nativas para uso como aditivos en la alimentación avícola. Rev Colomb Biotecnol. 2012;14(1):31-40.. These samples were activated for 18 hours in MRS broth and incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours to measure resistance by optical density at 600 nm (Genesys 10S UV-VIS model, Thermo Cientific), to finally calculate R with respect to the reference ¹²12. Sánchez L, Omura M, Lucas A, Pérez T, Llanes M, Luce C. Cepas de Lactobacillus spp. Con capacidades probióticas aisladas del tracto intestinal de terneros neonatos. Rev Salud Anim. 2015;37(2):94-104..

Milk lactose fermentation test

The test consisted in inoculating 3% of the strains into 20 ml of pasteurized milk (3/100v) which was incubated at 37 °C for 18 hours, to finally measure the final pH ¹²12. Sánchez L, Omura M, Lucas A, Pérez T, Llanes M, Luce C. Cepas de Lactobacillus spp. Con capacidades probióticas aisladas del tracto intestinal de terneros neonatos. Rev Salud Anim. 2015;37(2):94-104.. This test was carried out in the Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology Laboratory of the Faculty of Sciences at UNALM.

Statistical analysis

The data recorded to determine the presence of lactic acid bacteria in the meconium of vaginal and caesarean section newborns were analyzed twice. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to assess normality. To evaluate the differences in colony averages according to the type of delivery, the Mann Whitney U test was used through the SPSS 20 program. To analyze the acid pH and bile salt resistance tests, the Student’s t-test was used in R-3.4.0.

Ethical considerations

The study was approved by the INMP Research Ethics Committee. The purpose of the research was explained to the mothers of the infants, who gave their consent to take the samples.

RESULTS

Sample collection

Meconium samples from those born by cesarean section were greenish-yellow, while meconium samples from those born vaginally were greenish-black (Figure 1). During the recollection of meconium, there were differences in the samples from two infants born by cesarean section, which corresponded to 3-days-old infants; the remaining samples corresponded to 1-day-old infants. Likewise, 28 of the neonates born by cesarean section were fed with artificial formula and two of them with maternal milk from the third day of life; while those born vaginally were exclusively breastfed.

Isolation of bacteria

In the pre-enrichment stage, two meconium samples from newborns by cesarean section formed gases that released unpleasant odors, said samples were then planted in MacConkey agar. After incubation, the presence of colonies of enterobacteria was confirmed.

In the plate growth test, 28 of 30 meconium samples from vaginal newborns showed growth of colonies of lactic acid bacteria (93.3%) compared to two of 30 meconium samples from those born by caesarean section (6.7%) (Figure 2). Likewise, the average number of colonies was higher in the meconium of those born vaginally (p<0.001) (Table 1). These colonies were observed under the microscope, and long thin bacilli and short bacilli were found, which correspond to characteristics of lactic acid bacteria (9). A total of 48 colonies were isolated and planted in modified MRS agar, and a better differentiation of the colonies according to size, color and border was observed (Figure 3).

Tolerance to bile salts and acid pH

Forty-eight strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated and subjected to a tolerance of >30% survival for 24 hours at an acidic pH of 3.0, and >20% survival at 0.3% bile salt concentration. A total of 33 (68.7%) surviving strains were obtained with greater resistance to acid than to bile salts, measured by absorbance.

Milk fermentation test

All the isolated strains fermented the lactose in the milk, obtaining an average pH of 3.95±0.22 (3.71≤ pH ≥ 4.71).

DISCUSSION

It was shown that meconium from vaginal newborns had a higher presence of lactic acid bacteria than meconium from cesarean newborns, and little presence of anaerobic organisms.

The growth of acid-forming bacteria in samples of meconium from vaginal newborns is related to the largest quantity of lactobacilli in a woman’s vagina, which, during childbirth, is transmitted to and colonizes the mucous membrane of the digestive, respiratory, urogenital and skin tracts of the newborn ¹³13. Gritz EC, Bhandari V. The Human Neonatal Gut Microbiome: A Brief Review. Front Pediatr. 2015;3:17. doi: 10.3389/fped.2015.00017.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2015.00017... . Intestinal colonization occurs especially by the genus Lactobacillus, which contributes to the formation of microbiota in neonates ⁽¹⁴14. Biasucci G, Rubini M, Riboni S, Morelli L, Bessi E, Retetangos C. Mode of delivery affects the bacterial community in the newborn gut. Early Hum Dev. 2010;86(1):13-5. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.01.004.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.201... ^-1515. Madan JC, Salari RC, Saxena D, Davidson L, O'Toole GA, Moore JH, et al. La colonización microbiana del intestino en neonatos prematuros predice la sepsis neonatal. Arch Dis Child Fetal and Neonatal Edition. 2012;97(6):F456-62.. Therefore, we consider that the increased growth of lactic acid bacteria in the meconium of vaginal newborns was due to the passing through the birth canal and the exclusive breastfeeding they received.

In contrast, meconium in newborns born by cesarean section showed a greater presence of enterobacteria, which would be directly related to the presence of the genera Clostridium, Staphylococcus, Propiobacterium and Corynebacterium in the digestive tract of these newborns ¹⁴14. Biasucci G, Rubini M, Riboni S, Morelli L, Bessi E, Retetangos C. Mode of delivery affects the bacterial community in the newborn gut. Early Hum Dev. 2010;86(1):13-5. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.01.004.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.201... ^-1515. Madan JC, Salari RC, Saxena D, Davidson L, O'Toole GA, Moore JH, et al. La colonización microbiana del intestino en neonatos prematuros predice la sepsis neonatal. Arch Dis Child Fetal and Neonatal Edition. 2012;97(6):F456-62.. In addition, recent research indicates that those born by cesarean section would lack intestinal colonization, or that this would occur late, even up to one year of age ¹⁶16. Jakobsson HE, Abrahamsson TR, Jenmalm MC, Harris K, Quince C, Jernberg C. Decreased gut microbiota diversity, delayed Bacteroidetes colonisation and reduced Th1 responses in infants delivered by caesarean section. Gut. 2014;63(4):559-66. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2012-303249.
https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2012-3032... . Therefore, the low growth of lactic acid bacteria in the meconium of newborns born by caesarean section (6.7%) would be related to the low consumption of breast milk on the third day of life, since the presence of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium) has been reported in breast milk, which is transmitted to the newborn when it is breastfed ¹⁷17. Solís G, De los Reyes-Gavilan CG, Fernández N, Margolles A, Gueimonde M. Establishment and development of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria microbiota in breast-milk and the infant gut. Anaerobe. 2010;16(3):307-10. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2010.02.004.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anaerobe.2010.... .

The greenish-yellow color and the characteristic strong smell of feces from cesarean

section newborns, presumably from formula feeding, is different from that observed in vaginal infants who were fed primarily breast milk ¹³13. Gritz EC, Bhandari V. The Human Neonatal Gut Microbiome: A Brief Review. Front Pediatr. 2015;3:17. doi: 10.3389/fped.2015.00017.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2015.00017... .

The characteristics described of the counted and selected white colonies in solid medium correspond to the description of lactic acid bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus ⁽⁹9. Kandler O, Weiss G. Regular nonsporing Gram positives rods. En: Sneath PHA, Mair NS, Sharpe ME, Holt JG, editors. Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Vol 2. Baltimore: Maryland; 1986. pp. 1208-60.. These bacteria, growing in MRS broth, showed rapid precipitation of white cells at the bottom of the tube, which occurs when growth ceases, giving rise to a soft and homogeneous sediment ¹⁸18. Holt JG, Krieg NR, Sneath PHA, Staley JT, Williams ST. Bergey´s Manual of Determinative and Bacterology 9a ed. Washington: National Academy Press; 2001..

Of the total strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated, 68.7% showed resistance to gastrointestinal conditions during an exposure time of 24 hours measured by absorbance. This value is less than the 73.3% reported for Lactobacillus ramosus exposed for two hours ¹⁹19. Rodríguez Gonzáles M. Aislamiento y selección de cepas del género Lactobacillus con capacidad probiótica e inmunomoduladora. [Tesis Doctoral]. Barcelona: Universidad de Barcelona; 2009 [citado 20 enero 2019]. Disponible en: https://www.tdx.cat/bitstream/handle/10803/3931/mrg1de1.pdf.
https://www.tdx.cat/bitstream/handle/108... , the difference could be related to the exposure time. It is likely that the surviving strains were Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 27139, FAGRO 98, FAGRO 98LP) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (FAGRO 36.5), since their resistance to acid pH and high bile salt concentrations has been reported, even surviving in the gastrointestinal tract ²⁰20. León Reissig MF. Evaluación in vitro de cepas de bacterias acidolácticas nativas con potencial probiótico. [Tesis de Licenciatura]. Montevideo: Universidad de la Republica; 2012. [citado 12 marzo 2019]. Disponible en: https://www.colibri.udelar.edu.uy/jspui/handle/20.500.12008/1432.
https://www.colibri.udelar.edu.uy/jspui/... .

All the isolated lactic acid bacteria fermented the milk lactose and the average pH recorded was 3.95, which is within the range of Lactobacillus spp ⁽¹²12. Sánchez L, Omura M, Lucas A, Pérez T, Llanes M, Luce C. Cepas de Lactobacillus spp. Con capacidades probióticas aisladas del tracto intestinal de terneros neonatos. Rev Salud Anim. 2015;37(2):94-104..

Among the study limitations, it should be mentioned that, the samples extraction was limited to two to three per week, for each group evaluated. The time interval between the collection of each sample depended on the defecation of the neonate, which influenced its transfer to the laboratory for the corresponding analyses. However, once the sample was collected, it was kept in adequate conditions to avoid contamination and deterioration.

Finally, it can be concluded that meconium from vaginal newborns showed a greater development of lactic acid bacteria with a greater presence of bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus compared to those born by cesarean section, in whom the presence of enterobacteria was evident.

Acknowledgements:

To Dr. Luz Veliz Sedano and Dr. Aida Cordero for their valuable contributions to the development of this research.

References

Publication Dates

History