Blastocystis Species Research Articles

High rates of Dientamoeba fragilis and Blastocystis species in children’s stool but minor clinical significance

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and the clinical significance of dientamoeba fragilis (DF) and blastocystis (Bs) in pediatric stool samples. MethodsA historical cohort study of children under 18 years of age who underwent stool multiplex PCR for bacteria and parasites. DF and Bs results were not routinely reported. We assessed the frequency of various stool microorganisms and analyzed a composite of symptoms occurring within 14 days before testing and four post-test composite outcomes (symptoms, further medical evaluation, prescriptions of symptomatic treatment or antibiotics). Comparisons were made between children mono-infected with DF or Bs, those with negative PCR results, and those positive for microorganisms with established pathogenicity. ResultsOf 36,008 eligible children, 32.5% were positive for DF and 7.9% for Bs. Children positive for DF or Bs did not exhibit higher odds for pre- or post-test composite outcomes compared to those with all-negative PCR results, except for increased rates of abdominal pain and referrals for anti-TTG testing among DF-positive children. Antibiotic prescription was significantly more common among those positive for microorganisms of known pathogenicity. ConclusionsWhile DF and Bs are frequently detected in pediatric stool samples, their clinical significance appears to be limited.

Rare occurrence of Blastocystis in sea turtles and insects (cockroaches, houseflies, and crickets) from several states in Peninsular Malaysia.

Blastocystis a single-celled eukaryotic protist, is known to inhabit the intestines of various hosts, including humans, and has been implicated in a wide spectrum of symptoms, ranging from gastrointestinal issues to skin disorders, thereby establishing its status as an emerging infectious agent. In this study, the prevalence of Blastocystis infection was investigated in insects, including cockroaches, houseflies, and crickets, as well as sea turtles. Additionally, the genotypic characteristics of the isolated Blastocystis strains were examined, and the evolutionary relationships between Blastocystis species found in sea turtles, and animals/humans were determined. Microscopic techniques and molecular methods were utilized in this study. The results showed that four out of 90 insects (4.44%) and one out of 13 sea turtles (7.7%) were infected by Blastocystis. Furthermore, detailed observations revealed the presence of characteristic morphological features, such as vacuolar forms in the cockroach, cricket and sea turtle samples and binary fission from cockroach samples, indicative of Blastocystis' mode of reproduction. While the ST8 of Blastocystis in sea turtles were successfully identified, no subtyping was achieved for the infected insects. This study not only establishes the occurrence of Blastocystis infection in sea turtles but also uncovers its ability to infect insects, suggesting a potential reservoir role for these organisms. Overall, this research emphasizes the significance of comprehending the prevalence, genotypic diversity, and evolutionary relationships of Blastocystis across various hosts. Such insights are instrumental in developing effective control measures and public health interventions to mitigate the associated symptoms and prevent future outbreaks.

Blastocystis species growth inhibition in vitro by plant extracts

BackgroundThe protist Blastocystis species (sp.) inhabits the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals. In recent decades, alternative natural products derived from plants have demonstrated potential as effective treatments for Blastocystis infection. The anti-Blastocystis activity of three herbal ethanolic extracts— Odontites linkii subsp. cyprius, Ptilostemon chamaepeuce subsp. cyprius and Quercus alnifolia—were investigated in this study. MethodsThree distinct isolates of Blastocystis sp. maintained in vitro were molecularly subtyped. Cytotoxicity analysis was performed on individual Blastocystis sp. isolates using 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 μg/mL herbal ethanolic extracts for 24 and 48 hours. Quantitative, morphological, and size alterations of Blastocystis cells assessed the cytotoxicity of herbal anti-Blastocystis effect. ResultsFollowing subtyping analysis, one strain of Blastocystis had ST3 and ST1 mixed subtypes, and two strains had ST1 subtypes. Starting after 24 h of incubation, P. cham. subsp. cyprius (1000 μg/mL) exhibited the most pronounced and consistent anti-Blastocystis cytotoxicity against all three strains, comparable to metronidazole. The Ptilostemon chamaepeuce subsp. cyprius anti-Blastocystis cytotoxicity was evident in parasite quantitative distress, morphological alterations, and significant reductions in cell size. Odontites linkii subsp. cyprius cytotoxicity varied among the three Blastocystis strains. The three Blastocystis strains were resistant to Quercus alnifolia. ConclusionP. cham. subsp. cyprius was a potent and promising new herbal extract against Blastocystis sp. in vitro assays.

Spread of Intestinal Parasites in Patients Presenting with Gastrointestinal Complaints.

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in patients admitted to University of Health Sciences Türkiye (UHS) Van Training and Research Hospital. A total of 300 patients between the ages of 18-90 who applied to UHS Van Training and Research Hospital with gastrointestinal complaints and were referred to the parasitology laboratory between September 2021 and December 2021, and 100 patients without any chronic disease and gastrointestinal complaints in the control group were included in the study. Stool samples taken from patients included in the study and individuals in the control group were analyzed by native-lugol and modified acid-fast staining methods. In the study, intestinal parasites were detected in 41 (13.3%) of 300 patients in the patient group and in seven (7%) of 100 individuals in the control group. The highest rate of Blastocystis species (Blastocystis spp.) (5.7%) was found in the patient group. Entamoeba coli 3%, G. intestinalis 2.7% and Cryptosporidium species (Cryptosporidium spp). 2.3% were found among the other species detected. In addition, a statistically significant correlation was found between the incidence of parasites and abdominal pain (p=0.022) and nausea (p=0.029). As a result; it was concluded that intestinal parasites are still an important health problem in patients with gastrointestinal complaints and intestinal parasites should definitely be considered in this patient group.

Detection of Blastocystis species in the stool of immuno-compromised patients by using two different diagnostic techniques

Detection of Blastocystis species in the stool of immuno-compromised patients by using two different diagnostic techniques

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Blastocystis Species in Polish Soldiers Stationed in the Republic of Kosovo.

Blastocystis species (sp.) is one of the less well-understood water- and foodborne protozoa of medical and veterinary importance linked to different gastrointestinal disorders. Soldiers participating in military missions are particularly vulnerable to infection with this protozoa. The present study used molecular methods to detect, identify, and subtype (ST) Blastocystis sp. in Polish soldiers stationed in the Republic of Kosovo. Fecal samples were collected from 192 soldiers on arrival and after four months of stay. After DNA extraction, the barcoding region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) gene was amplified and sequenced. The DNA of Blastocystis sp. was detected in six (3.13%) and thirty (15.16%) samples in the first and second batch, respectively. Sequencing analysis revealed infections with ST 2, 3, 4, and 7. There was no statistical association between Blastocystis sp. infection and the parasite's ST or the age or rank of soldiers. The results indicate that the visit to a new environment and prolonged stay in the area of military operation in Kosovo resulted in a significant increase in both Blastocystis sp. infections and ST diversity among surveyed soldiers. This shows the need to undertake appropriate countermeasures to reduce Blastocystis infections in the military environment abroad.

The clinical significance of Dientamoeba fragilis and Blastocystis in human stool—retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance of Dientamoeba fragilis (DF) and Blastocystis species (Bs) in human stool. MethodsObservational study of patients ≥18 years, who were tested by stool multiplex PCR for bacteria and parasites between April 2019 and March 2022. Although DF and Bs are part of the PCR kit, these results are not routinely reported to the patient or the ordering physician. The main outcomes were the incidence of symptoms during 14 days before the referral to stool PCR test, and the incidence of several clinical outcomes during 60 days after the PCR test (symptoms, referrals to further evaluation, prescription of symptomatic, or antibiotic treatment). ResultsA total of 27 918 patients were tested by stool PCR during the 3 study years. A total of 6215 (22.3%) and 5337 (19.2%) were positive for DF and Bs, respectively. The incidence of symptoms before the test was similar in those positive for Bs or DF and those with all-negative PCR (adjusted OR and 95% CI of 0.87 [0.80–0.95] and 0.82 [0.76–0.88] for Bs and DF, respectively), whereas significantly higher (2.47 [2.23–2.73]) in those positive for the other multiplex PCR assay components. During the 60 days after the test, the prevalence of any of the outcomes was similar in those positive for Bs or DF and those with negative PCR (adjusted OR and 95% CI of 0.92 [0.83–1.02] and 0.89 [0.81–0.97] for symptoms, 0.84 [0.75–0.94] and 0.93 [0.85–1.01] for referrals, 0.88 [0.75–1.03] and 0.82 [0.71–0.94] for symptomatic treatment, and 0.88 [0.75–1.02] and 0.86 [0.75–0.98] for antibiotic treatment in the Bs and DF positive individuals, respectively). The PCR cycle threshold was not associated with any of the outcomes. DiscussionPositive stool PCR for DF or Bs was not associated with any of the measured clinical outcomes.

Mapping gut parasitism patterns in a cohort of Egyptians

In developing countries, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection is still significant, particularly due to geographical and socioeconomic variables. The objective of this study was to map the distribution pattern of intestinal parasitic infection in a cohort of the Egyptian population, as well as to assess associated risk factors. A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted on 386 patients. A single fecal specimen was collected from the study individual and examined microscopically for the detection of parasitic infection. DNA was extracted from all samples and utilized to amplify Entamoeba histolytica complex species, Cryptosporidium species, Giardia intestinalis assemblages, and Blastocystis species using PCRs. Typing of Cryptosporidium species and Giardia intestinalis assemblages was performed using restriction enzymes RasI and HaeIII respectively. While Blastocystis spp. subtypes (ST) were identified through sequencing of PCR products and phylogenetic analysis. 59.6% (230/386) of the study patients were infected with one or more intestinal parasites, 87.4%; 201/230 of patients had mono-parasitic infections, and 12.6%; 29/230 had multiple-parasitic infections (P < 0.0001). The predominant protozoa were Blastocystis, followed by Entamoeba histolytica complex, and Giardia intestinalis both as mono-parasites and as part of multiple parasites. Molecular assays showed that Blastocystis ST3, Entamoeba dispar, Giardia intestinalis assemblage B, and Cryptosporidium hominis were the most prevalent species. Intestinal parasitic infection was significantly associated with age, gender, residence, and water source. Multi-parasitism showed that residency in a rural area was a risk factor (OR 4.49; 95% CI 1.51–13.37; P = 0.007). Egyptians residing in rural areas have a high prevalence of intestinal multi-parasitism. Therefore, to lessen the prevalence and effects of these infections in this group, effective and sustainable control methods, providing health education focusing on good personal hygiene habits, and providing a safe drinking water supply should be implemented.

Blastocystis species prevalence and associated patient characteristics as predictors among a cohort of symptomatic and asymptomatic Egyptians

Blastocystis species prevalence and associated patient characteristics as predictors among a cohort of symptomatic and asymptomatic Egyptians

Prevalence and molecular subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in rabbits in Henan, Central China.

Species of Blastocystis Alexieff, 1911 are anaerobic intestinal protists found in humans and many kinds of animals that mainly cause diarrhea, abdominal pain and other clinical symptoms. At present, data on the prevalence and subtype diversity of species of Blastocystis in domestic rabbits are very limited. The purpose of this study was to characterise the infection rate and gene subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in domestic rabbits in Henan Province, Central China, and provide foundation for prevention and control of the disease caused by Blastocystis sp. in domestic rabbits. DNA was extracted from 286 fresh rabbit faecal samples collected from four areas of Henan Province, Central China. All DNA samples were screened using PCR and positive samples were sequenced to identify individual subtypes based on the small ribosomal subunit (SSU rRNA) gene. The overall infection rate of Blastocystis sp. in domestic rabbits in Henan Province was 15% (43/286). Three subtypes were identified, including ST1 (26/43, 60%), ST3 (5/43, 12%) and ST7 (12/43, 28%), all of which belonged to potentially zoonotic subtypes, ST1 was the dominant gene subtype. These results showed that infection with Blastocystis sp. was common in domestic rabbits in Henan Province, Central China, and was represented by zoonotic subtypes. Therefore, special attention should be paid to reduce the risk of transmission of Blastocystis sp. from domestic rabbits to humans.

Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Have an Altered Gut Microbiome Composition of Fungi and Protozoa.

It is known that the bacterial gut microbiome is altered in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but far less is known about the role of eukaryotic microorganisms in IBD. While eukaryotes are rarer than bacteria within the gastrointestinal environment, the current literature suggests that they may also be implicated in IBD. In our study, we characterized these often-neglected eukaryotic microbial communities by identifying fungi and protozoa in published shotgun stool metagenomes from 355 people with IBD (206 with Crohn’s disease, 126 with ulcerative colitis, and 23 with IBD-unclassified) and 471 unaffected healthy individuals. The individuals with IBD had a higher prevalence of fungi, particularly Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a lower prevalence of protozoa, particularly Blastocystis species (subtypes 1, 2, 3, and 4). Regression analysis showed that disease state, age, and BMI were associated with the prevalence and abundance of these two genera. We also characterized the eukaryotic gut microbiome in a shotgun stool metagenomic dataset from people with IBD who received fecal transplants, with samples pre- and post-transplantation, and from their donors. We found that in some FMT recipients, a single eukaryotic species remained stable over time, while in other recipients, the eukaryotic composition varied. We conclude that the eukaryotic gut microbiome is altered and varies over time in IBD, and future studies should aim to include these microbes when characterizing the gut microbiome in IBD.

The Role of Inhabited Animals With People in Human Transmission of Blastocystis sp.

Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal parasite worldwide that can cause infection in humans and animals. Blastocystis sp. has a high genetic diversity with 17 different subtypes (ST) identified to date. Since nine of these subtypes are common in both humans and animals, it has been proposed that animals may have a role in the transmission of Blastocystis sp. to human.&#x0D; The aim of this study is to investigate the epidemiological effect of animals on the human transmission of Blastocystis species by molecular methods for in our country.&#x0D; A total of 420 faecal samples were collected from the cattle, sheep, dogs, horses and chickens. Samples were stained with trichrome staining and cultivated by Jones's medium culture method. Blastocystis was detected in 53(12.6%) of 420. The samples were examined by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to identify nine common human subtypes.&#x0D; Subtypes were not detected in 33(62.3) of the 53 Blastocystis positive samples. Subtypes were detected in 20(37.7%) samples. The detected subtypes were as follows: ST5 in 4(7.5%) sheep, ST6 in 6(11.3%) chickens, ST7 in 11(20.7%) chickens, both ST6-ST7 were detected in one chicken).&#x0D; ST1, ST2, ST3 and ST4 - common subtypes in our country- were not detected in any animal. Sheep and chickens may be the source of human transmission of ST5, ST6 and ST7, the rare subtypes in our country. &#x0D; As a result, humans rather than animals, seem to be the source of the human transmission of Blastocystis sp. in our country.

Identification and Genetic Characterization of Blastocystis Species in Patients from Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

BackgroundBlastocystis species (sp.) are gastrointestinal protozoan parasites with high prevalence rates worldwide. Blastocystis sp. show extensive genetic diversity with 17 different subtypes (STs) described to date. A few studies have investigated the prevalence and STs of Blastocystis sp. in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Therefore, we aimed in this study to identify and characterize subtypes of Blastocystis sp. in the City of Makkah, Saudi Arabia.MethodsStool samples were collected from 140 patients who presented to King Abdulaziz Hospital, Hera General Hospital and Modern Medical Center in Saudi Arabia. Different microscopic examination methods of patients’ stools and molecular analyses (using primers targeting SSU rRNA gene) were performed to identify and characterize STs of Blastocystis sp.ResultsOur microscopic examination of stool samples showed that 96/140 patients (68.6%) had Blastocystis sp. infection. Clinical examination of infected patients revealed that 81 patients were symptomatic, whereas 15 were asymptomatic. Next, we isolated DNA from Blastocystis sp.-positive stool samples followed by PCR amplification of small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene and sequence analysis. Our sequence analysis showed that subtype 3 (ST3) was the most prevalent (53.13%) followed by subtype 1 (ST1) (45.83%), whereas subtype 2 (ST2) was the least prevalent (1.04%). Moreover, our results showed that all three STs resulted in more symptomatic than asymptomatic cases. Finally, we identified novel haplotypes which comprised of 8 ST3, 6 ST1, and one ST2 haplotypes.ConclusionOur identification of several haplotypes in patients’ stools confirms the genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. and may explain the reported low host specificity and differential pathogenicity of Blastocystis sp. We believe that additional molecular epidemiological and genomic studies are needed to understand the prevalence and pathogenicity of different subtypes in humans and animal hosts.

First report of Blastocystis spp. subtypes in ZOO animals in Slovakia, Central Europe.

Blastocystis spp. has been reported in wildlife, domestic animals and animals housed in ZOO. To-date, 17 genetically diverse lines have been reported in mammals and birds (designated ST) based on differences in the SSU rRNA. In this study, faeces samples were collected from 24 ZOO animals with clinical signs suggestive of gastrointestinal disease in Košice ZOO, Slovakia. After DNA isolation, PCR was conducted to amplify the SSU region of DNA of Blastocystis species. Forward primer- Blast F and reverse primer- Blast R were used in the reaction. From 25 faeces samples, Blastocystis spp. was detected in 5 animals (3 mammals, 2 birds), with a prevalence of 20%. Subsequent molecular analyses identified the ST 5 (n = 3), ST 7 (n = 1), and ST 12 (n = 1) subtypes, where the ST 5 subtype was identified in the mammalian group and birds, and the ST 7 and ST 12 subtypes were identified only in mammals. Based on these findings, focusing on ZOO animals as a potential source of infection for humans is highly recommended.

Phylogenetic tree of Blastocystis hominis in Iraqi children in Salah AL-Deen province, Iraq.

Blastocystis hominis is an intestinal protozoan that inhabits the large intestine of humans and a wide range of animals. Blastocystis species has a worldwide distribution. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence and the genetic variety of Blastocystis sp. in Iraqi children in Salah AL-Deen province, Iraq. 150 faecal samples were collected from children (5-10 years old) who attended the Salah AL-Deen hospital during the period from March to November 2020. The results revealed that 33.3% of children (50 out of 150) were found infected with Blastocystis sp., when the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used. The presence of ST3 gene was at a band of 526 bp where this gene was observed in 11 samples out of 50 samples. The results also showed significant differences in the prevalence rate between rural and urban regions; between symptomatic and asymptomatic children, and between children who contacted domestic animals and those who did not contact animals (P<0.05). No significant differences in the prevalence rate were between different age groups (P>0.05). Regarding the genetic variation in subtype 3(ST3) revealed in phylogenetic tree analysis, there were three variations (transversion, deletion, and transition) which were detected through the sequence alignment, also the similarity was 97% with the sequences of Blastocystis sp. registered in GenBank. The Iraqi ST3 isolate was registered with ID: OL410286 in GenBank.

Gut Microbiome Profiles in Colonizations with the Enteric Protozoa Blastocystis in Korean Populations.

The influence of unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms on human gut health and disease is largely unexplored. Blastocystis species commonly colonize the gut, but their clinical significance and ecological role are unclear. We evaluated the effect of Blastocystis colonization on the fecal microbiota of Koreans. In total, 39 Blastocystis-positive and -negative fecal samples were analyzed. The fecal microbiome was assessed by targeting the V3–V4 region of the bacterial 16S ribosomal gene. Bacterial diversity was greater in the Blastocystis-positive than in the Blastocystis-negative group. The bacterial community structure and phylogenetic diversity differed according to the presence of Blastocystis. The mean proportions of Faecalibacterium species and Ruminococcaceae were larger in the Blastocystis-positive group, and that of Enterococcus species was larger in the Blastocystis-negative group. Linear discriminant analysis showed that Faecalibacterium, Prevotella 9, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002, Muribaculaceae, Rikenellaceae, Acidaminococcaceae, Phascolarctobacterium, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 were highly enriched in the Blastocystis-positive group, whereas Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus durans, Enterococcaceae, Lactobacillales, and Bacilli were highly abundant in the Blastocystis-negative group. Overall, our results enlighten the notion that Blastocystis colonization is associated with a healthy gut microbiota.

722. Parasitic and Non-Parasitic Causes of Eosinophilia in Children Presenting to a Tertiary Care Center in the United States

Abstract Background Peripheral eosinophilia can be caused by many underlying conditions, including infectious pathogens, allergic disorders, neoplastic disorders, and immunological disorders. However, uncovering the cause of eosinophilia in children can be challenging due to the wide differential diagnosis. Methods To identify causes and risk factors of eosinophilia in children, we performed a retrospective chart review of children presenting to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX with peripheral eosinophilia from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2019. Eosinophilia was classified as mild (absolute eosinophilia count or AEC &amp;gt;500 and &amp;lt; 1500), moderate (AEC &amp;gt;1500 and &amp;lt; 5000) and severe (AEC &amp;gt; 5000). Demographic information in addition to travel history, co-morbid conditions, and diagnostic workup were collected. Results A total of 773 patients under 18 years of age were evaluated. The most common cause of eosinophilia in children was atopy (N=343, 44%), followed by eosinophilia of unknown etiology (N=227, 29%). Infectious pathogens were the etiology in 8% of cases of which all were parasitic pathogens. Helminthic (n=48, 79% of parasitic diseases in total) pathogens were more common than protozoan (n=13, 21% of parasitic diseases in total) and patients with parasitic infections had higher median eosinophilia compared to other subgroups (median = 1661, range 512-17,501) with the majority having moderate to severe eosinophilia (57%). The most common helminth was Toxocara (n=31), followed by Strongyloides (n=15), and, more rarely, pinworms (n=4). The most common protozoa identified was Dientamoeba fragilis (n=9), followed by Giardia species (n=5), Endolimax nana (n=4), Blastocystis species (n=3), and Iodamoeba butschlii (n=1). Many unknown cases had limited workup that did not include investigations for common parasites. Conclusion While atopy and unknown etiology were the most common diagnoses for children presenting with eosinophilia, parasites were relatively common and should be considered in the differential when investigating etiologies for peripheral eosinophilia. Disclosures Joud Hajjar, MD, MS, Baxalta (Grant/Research Support)Horizon (Advisor or Review Panel member)Pharming (Advisor or Review Panel member)

Improved detection of disease-associated gut microbes using 16S sequence-based biomarkers

BackgroundSequencing partial 16S rRNA genes is a cost effective method for quantifying the microbial composition of an environment, such as the human gut. However, downstream analysis relies on binning reads into microbial groups by either considering each unique sequence as a different microbe, querying a database to get taxonomic labels from sequences, or clustering similar sequences together. However, these approaches do not fully capture evolutionary relationships between microbes, limiting the ability to identify differentially abundant groups of microbes between a diseased and control cohort. We present sequence-based biomarkers (SBBs), an aggregation method that groups and aggregates microbes using single variants and combinations of variants within their 16S sequences. We compare SBBs against other existing aggregation methods (OTU clustering and Microphenoor DiTaxa features) in several benchmarking tasks: biomarker discovery via permutation test, biomarker discovery via linear discriminant analysis, and phenotype prediction power. We demonstrate the SBBs perform on-par or better than the state-of-the-art methods in biomarker discovery and phenotype prediction.ResultsOn two independent datasets, SBBs identify differentially abundant groups of microbes with similar or higher statistical significance than existing methods in both a permutation-test-based analysis and using linear discriminant analysis effect size. . By grouping microbes by SBB, we can identify several differentially abundant microbial groups (FDR <.1) between children with autism and neurotypical controls in a set of 115 discordant siblings. Porphyromonadaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and an unnamed species of Blastocystis were significantly enriched in autism, while Veillonellaceae was significantly depleted. Likewise, aggregating microbes by SBB on a dataset of obese and lean twins, we find several significantly differentially abundant microbial groups (FDR<.1). We observed Megasphaera andSutterellaceae highly enriched in obesity, and Phocaeicola significantly depleted. SBBs also perform on bar with or better than existing aggregation methods as features in a phenotype prediction model, predicting the autism phenotype with an ROC-AUC score of .64 and the obesity phenotype with an ROC-AUC score of .84.ConclusionsSBBs provide a powerful method for aggregating microbes to perform differential abundance analysis as well as phenotype prediction. Our source code can be freely downloaded from http://github.com/briannachrisman/16s_biomarkers.

Systematic review of opportunistic parasites among Egyptian immunocompromised individuals from 2010 to 2020

Opportunistic parasites are commonly linked with immunocompromised individuals due to weakness intheir immune system. Alteration in their cellular and humoral responses leads to hindrance of T and Blymphocytes from efficiently acting against opportunistic pathogens. Accordingly, immunocompromisedpatients present increased susceptibility to different microorganisms including viral, bacterial, fungal, andparasitic infections. Several conditions are commonly associated with host immune system impairment.Among them enrolled in the present review were malignancy, chronic liver diseases, diabetes mellitus,renal failure, organ transplantation, and inflammatory bowel disease. The most common reportedopportunistic parasites include species of Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis, and Microsporidium, as well as T.gondii, C. cayetanensis, I. belli, and S. stercoralis. The objective of the present systematic review is to increaseawareness concerning opportunistic parasitosis among Egyptian immunocompromised individuals from2010 to 2020 with particular reference to their relative detection rates and risk factors of infection.

Molecular Characterization of Blastocystis in Captive and Free-Ranging New World Primates, Platyrrhini.

Blastocystis species are widely distributed micro-eukaryote parasites found in both human and nonhuman primates. Despite having a global distribution, descriptions of Blastocystis subtype diversity in neotropical primates is largely limited to captive animals. The aim of this study was to molecularly characterize the presence of Blastocystis in free-ranging black-headed night monkeys, Aotus nigriceps, and to analyze Blastocystis heterogeneity in primates of the Parvorder Platyrrhini. We analyzed Blastocystis small sub-unit ribosomal DNA (SSUrDNA) from both A. nigriceps and Azara's night monkey, A. azarae boliviensis, in Southeastern Peru. We also included additional Blastocystis sequence from other neotropical primate studies to explore the distribution and host specificity of Blastocystis subtypes (ST) throughout the neotropics. Thirteen percent of A. nigriceps samples were Blastocystis positive. Only ST8 was amplified in A. nigriceps and this partial DNA sequence was highly similar to ST8 sequence previously obtained from a human in Brazil. In our analysis of all available Blastocystis SSU sequences from primates of the Parvorder Platyrrhini, we found 15 monophyletic lineages corresponding to previously described subtypes ST1-ST10, ST12-15, and ST17. Blastocystis SSU sequences amplified from A. nigriceps fecal samples shared high sequence similarity to isolates found in several other neotropical primates, Alouatta palliata, A. caraya, Ateles fusciceps, and Lagothrix. Similar subtypes have been found in human and captive primates which supports the possibility of transmission when in close contact. Expanded sampling of sympatric neotropical primates in the wild will establish whether subtypes and clades are limited to taxonomic group or whether transmission occurs between overlapping species.