Abstract
Intestinal parasitic infections, caused by helminths and protozoa, are globally distributed and major causes of worldwide morbidity. The gut microbiota may modulate parasite virulence and host response upon infection. The complex interplay between parasites and the gut microbiota is poorly understood, partly due to sampling difficulties in remote areas with high parasite burden. In a large study of children in Guinea-Bissau, we found high prevalence of intestinal parasites. By sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes of fecal samples stored on filter paper from a total of 1,204 children, we demonstrate that the bacterial microbiota is not significantly altered by helminth infections, whereas it is shaped by the presence of both pathogenic and nonpathogenic protozoa, including Entamoeba (E.) spp. and Giardia (G.) lamblia. Within-sample diversity remains largely unaffected, whereas overall community composition is significantly affected by infection with both nonpathogenic E. coli (R2 = 0.0131, P = 0.0001) and Endolimax nana (R2 = 0.00902, P = 0.0001), and by pathogenic E. histolytica (R2 = 0.0164, P = 0.0001) and G. lamblia (R2 = 0.00676, P = 0.0001). Infections with multiple parasite species induces more pronounced shifts in microbiota community than mild ones. A total of 31 bacterial genera across all four major bacterial phyla were differentially abundant in protozoan infection as compared to noninfected individuals, including increased abundance of Prevotella, Campylobacter and two Clostridium clades, and decreased abundance of Collinsella, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, Veillonella and one Clostridium clade. In the present study, we demonstrate that the fecal bacterial microbiota is shaped by intestinal parasitic infection, with most pronounced associations for protozoan species. Our results provide insights into the interplay between the microbiota and intestinal parasites, which are valuable to understand infection biology and design further studies aimed at optimizing treatment strategies.
Highlights
Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common infections in humans and contribute to global morbidity and mortality
Enteric parasites inhabit the gut of the infected host, but how infections with these parasites may change the composition of bacteria within the gut remains more or less unclear
We find that infections with multiple parasite species induces more pronounced changes in the bacterial composition, and that certain parasite species significantly changes the diversity of bacteria
Summary
Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common infections in humans and contribute to global morbidity and mortality. Among the most important intestinal protozoans to humans are G. lamblia, which infects more than 250 million people worldwide [5,6,7,8], and E. histolytica, which contributes with approx. Despite several initiatives to lower incidence, including the distribution of drugs such as metronidazole for Giardia-infections and mass drugs for treatment of STHs [10], and improvement of water, sanitation and hygiene [11], intestinal parasitic infections remain a severe global health concern. A general decline in STH since 1990 has been documented, a rise in other intestinal parasite infections has been observed, including amebiasis [4], and the infections are still among the most important causes of morbidity in high-prevalent regions. One possible way to achieve this is by enhancing understanding of the interaction between intestinal parasites and their host
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
