GI Tract Mycobiome in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection : A Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: Human microbiota including intestinal fungi (mycobiota) plays an important role in health and disease. Mycobiome is a term refers to the genetic composition of fungal microbiota. The relation of intestinal mycobiota to chronic viral hepatitis and its progression has not yet been totally explored. Objectives: This study was designed to compare GI fungal composition and fungal genetic load (mycobiome load) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection including liver cirrhosis and healthy subjects. Methodology: Stool samples were collected from patients with varying degrees of chronic HCV infection. Sabouraud dextrose agar was used for culture detection of fungi. Real-time PCR was done for estimation of mycobiome load in patients with chronic HCV infection, HCV cirrhosis and in healthy control. Results: This study enrolled 53 patients with chronic HCV infection including 27 patients with chronic HCV hepatitis and 26 patients with HCV liver cirrhosis. Fifty-five subjects were considered as healthy controls. There is a significant increase in mycobiome load in patients with chronic HCV infection including patients with cirrhosis more than the control group (P value <0.05). By culture method, Candida species were obtained with more frequent isolation in HCV patients. There was an increase in the non albicans Candida in chronic HCV cirrhosis group more than albicans Candida. Conclusion: HCV patients are more predisposed to candidal colonization than normal subjects. The load of enteric mycobiome is increased in chronic HCV patients. The load of GI mycobiome may increase with the progress of HCV infection.