Diarrheal diseases caused by enteric pathogens are a significant public health concern. It is widely considered that close contact between persons, poor hygiene, and consumption of contaminated food ...are the primary causes of gastroenteritis. Clinical microbiology laboratory observations indicate that the incidence of enteropathogenic microorganisms may have been reduced in Denmark during the COVID-19 pandemic. All Departments of Clinical Microbiology in Denmark provided data on the monthly incidence of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp., Clostridioides difficile, Norovirus GI+GII, Giardia duodenalis, and Cryptosporidium from March 2018 to February 2021. The data were divided into three periods as follows: Control Period 1 (March 2018 to February 2019); Control Period 2 (March 2019 to February 2020); and the Restriction (pandemic) Period (March 2020 to February 2021). The incidences of pathogenic Salmonella spp.-, Escherichia coli-, and Campylobacter spp.-positive samples decreased by 57.3%, 48.1%, and 32.9%, respectively, during the restriction period. No decrease in C. difficile was observed. Norovirus GI+GII-positive samples decreased by 85.6%. Giardia duodenalis-positive samples decreased by 66.2%. Cryptosporidium species decreased by 59.6%. This study demonstrates a clear decrease in the incidence of enteropathogenic bacteria (except for C. difficile), viruses, and parasites during the SARS-CoV-2 restriction period in Denmark.
Toxoplasma gondii is an important foodborne zoonotic parasite. Meat of infected animals is presumed to constitute a major source of human infection and may be a driver of geographical variation in ...the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in humans, which is substantial in the Nordic-Baltic region in northern Europe. However, data on seroprevalence of T. gondii in different animal species used for human consumption are scattered.
We conducted a systematic review of seroprevalence studies and meta-analysis to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii in five animal species that are raised or hunted for human consumption in the Nordic-Baltic region: domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus), sheep (Ovis aries), cattle (Bos taurus), wild boars (Sus scrofa), and moose (Alces alces). We searched for studies that were conducted between January 1990 and June 2018, and reported in articles, theses, conference abstracts and proceedings, and manuscripts. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify variables influencing the seroprevalence.
From a total of 271 studies identified in the systematic review, 32 were included in the meta-analysis. These comprised of 13 studies on domestic pigs, six on sheep, three on cattle, six on wild boars, and four on moose. The estimated pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii was 6% in domestic pigs (CI95%: 3–10%), 23% in sheep (CI95%: 12–36%), 7% in cattle (CI95%: 1–21%), 33% in wild boars (CI95%: 26–41%), and 16% in moose (CI95%: 10–23%). High heterogeneity was observed in the seroprevalence data within each species. In all host species except wild boars, the pooled seroprevalence estimates were significantly higher in animals >1 year of age than in younger animals. Not all studies provided information on animal age, sensitivity and specificity of the serological method employed, and the cut-off values used for defining an animal seropositive.
A substantial proportion of animals raised or hunted for human consumption in the region had tested positive for T. gondii. This indicates widespread exposure to T. gondii among animals raised or hunted for human consumption in the region. Large variations were observed in the seroprevalence estimates between the studies in the region; however, studies were too few to identify spatial patterns at country-level.
Abstract Blastocystis is a very common unicellular intestinal parasite of ubiquitous occurrence. In order to describe the molecular epidemiology of Blastocystis infections in Turkey, 87 isolates from ...69 symptomatic and 18 asymptomatic individuals were sequenced. Sequence data were phylogenetically analyzed and statistically tested against unmodifiable risk factors such as gender and age. Blastocystis -positive males were complaining mainly of gastroenteritis, whereas dyspepsia was the chief complaint among Blastocystis -positive females. Blastocystis sp. subtypes detected in the study included subtypes 1, 2, 3 and 4, subtype 3 being the most predominant (75.9%). No association was detected between Blastocystis sp. subtype and symptoms ( p > 0.365), or between infection intensity and symptoms ( p > 0.441). There was a tendency of subtype 2 isolates being more common among older study individuals, and subtype 2 isolates were significantly associated with higher parasite abundance ( p = 0.017). Compared to data from similar studies, the distribution of Blastocystis sp. isolates in Turkey was found to more or less reflect the one seen in other countries, and it was deduced that subtype 3 is generally by far the most common subtype infecting humans, followed by subtypes 1, 2 and 4.
We performed a 12-month cohort study of the stability and resilience of the intestinal microbiota of healthy children in daycare in Denmark in relation to diarrheal events and exposure to known risk ...factors for gastrointestinal health such as travelling and antibiotic use. In addition, we analyzed how gut microbiota recover from such exposures.
We monitored 32 children in daycare aged 1-6 years. Fecal samples were submitted every second month during a one-year observational period. Information regarding exposures and diarrheal episodes was obtained through questionnaires. Bacterial communities were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The core microbiota (mean abundance > 95%) dominated the intestinal microbiota, and none of the tested exposures (diarrheal events, travel, antibiotic use) were associated with decreases in the relative abundance of the core microbiota. Samples exhibited lower intra-individual variation than inter-individual variation. Half of all the variation between samples was explained by which child a sample originated from. Age explained 7.6-9.6% of the variation, while traveling, diarrheal events, and antibiotic use explained minor parts of the beta diversity. We found an age-dependent increase of alpha diversity in children aged 1-3 years, and while diarrheal events caused a decrease in alpha diversity, a recovery time of 40-45 days was observed. Among children having had a diarrheal event, we observed a 10x higher relative abundance of Prevotella. After travelling, a higher abundance of two Bacteroides species and 40% less Lachnospiraceae were seen. Antibiotic use did not correlate with changes in the abundance of any bacteria.
We present data showing that Danish children in daycare have stable intestinal microbiota, resilient to the exposures investigated. An early age-dependent increase in the diversity was demonstrated. Diarrheal episodes decreased alpha diversity with an estimated recovery time of 40-45 days.
is a unicellular eukaryote found in the gastrointestinal tract of both human and other animal hosts. The clinical significance of colonic
colonization remains obscure. In this study, we used ...metabarcoding and bioinformatics analyses to identify differences in stool microbiota diversity between
-positive and
-negative individuals (n = 1285). Alpha diversity was significantly higher in
carriers. At phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were enriched in carriers, while Proteobacteria were enriched in non-carriers. The genera
,
,
,
,
, and
were enriched in carriers, whereas
,
,
, and
were enriched in non-carriers. No difference in beta diversity was observed. Individuals with
-positive stools appear to have gut microbiomes associated with eubiosis unlike those with
-negative stools, whose gut microbiomes are similar to those associated with dysbiosis. The role of
as an indicator organism and potential modulator of the gut microbiota warrants further scrutiny.
The molecular epidemiology of giardiasis in Africa remains unclear. A study was carried out across four hospitals in Algeria. A total of 119 fecal samples from 55 children, 37 adults, and 27 ...individuals of undetermined age, all scored positive for intestinal parasites by microscopy, and were screened by real-time PCR for
. Molecular characterization of
was performed by assemblage-specific PCR and PCR targeting the triose phosphate isomerase gene (
). Of the 119 samples, 80 (67%) were
-positive by real-time PCR. For 48 moderately-highly real-time PCR-positive samples,
genotyping assigned 22 samples to Assemblage A and 26 to Assemblage B. Contrary to Assemblage A, Assemblage B exhibited substantial genetic diversity and allelic heterozygosity. Assemblage-specific PCR proved to be specific for discriminating Assemblage A or B but not as sensitive as
genotyping. We confirmed that real-time PCR is more sensitive than microscopy for detecting
in stool samples and that robust amplification and sequencing of the
gene is feasible when moderate-to-strongly real-time PCR-positive samples are used. This study is one of the few performed in Africa providing genotyping data on
infections in humans. Both assemblages A and B were commonly seen and not associated with specific sociodemographic data.
Severe granulomatous chronic villitis with focal remnants of Toxoplasma was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and DNA-based methods in the placenta from a child that died four days after birth. The ...immunocompetent mother was seronegative for Toxoplasma at delivery and 10 months later. Placental infection may happen without maternal systemic infection.
IntroductionBy end of 2018, the European Union countries hosted approximately 2.5 million refugees and Lebanon alone hosted more than 1 million. The majority of refugees worldwide came from Syria. ...The prevailing study design in published studies on asylum seekers’ and refugees’ health leaves a number of fundamental research questions unanswerable. In the Asylum seekers’ and Refugees’ Changing Health (ARCH) study, we examine the health of a homogeneous group of refugees and asylum seekers in two very different host countries with very different migration histories. We aim to study the health impact of the migration process, living conditions, access to healthcare, gene–environment interactions and the health transition.Methods and analysisARCH is an international multisite study of the health of adult (>18 years old) Syrian refugees and asylum seekers in Lebanon and Denmark. Using a standardised framework, we collect information on mental and physical health using validated scales and biological samples. We aim to include 220 participants in Danish asylum centres and 1100 participants in Lebanese refugee camps and settlements. We will use propensity score weights to control for confounding and multiple imputation to handle missing data.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained in Lebanon and Denmark. In the short term, we will present the cross-sectional association between long-distance migration and the results of the throat and wound swab, blood and faeces samples and mental health screenings. In the longer term, we are planning to follow the refugees in Denmark with collection of dried blood spots, mental health screenings and semistructured qualitative interviews on the participant’s health and access to healthcare in the time lived in Denmark. Here, we present an overview of the background for the ARCH study as well as a thorough description of the methodology.
Background: Blastocystis has been associated with various symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of Blastocystis in children with celiac disease (CeD) or ...functional abdominal pain (FAP) and to evaluate its subtypes (STs) with respect to demographic, socioeconomic and epidemiological factors.
Methods: Overall, 161 fecal samples were collected from healthy children and patients with FAP or CeD in Hitit University Erol Olçok Research and Training Hospital, Corum, Turkey between 2016-2018. Samples were examined using both native-Lugol (NL) and trichrome-stained (TS) smears, and further analyses by PCR and Sanger sequencing were performed. A standard questionnaire was applied to obtain demographic, socioeconomic, epidemiological data.
Results: Blastocystis was found in 10.6% of the total study population. Neither bacteria nor any other parasites were found, except for one Giardia (0.6%) in the CeD group. The presence/absence of the parasite was not found to be associated with demographic, socioeconomic and epidemiological factors. Blastocysis was detected in 11.5% (6/52) of the CeD, 7.7% (4/52) of the FAP, and 12.3% (7/57) of the healthy group. Diagnostic methods were similar in terms of Blastocystis detection (P= 0.671), and there was fair agreement between the NL, TS and PCR (Fleiss' Kappa=0.847, P=0.001). ST2 (42.8%) and ST3 (35.7%) were the predominant STs followed by ST1 (21.4%).
Conclusion: We observed no difference between study groups in terms of Blastocystis prevalence. ST1, ST2 and ST3 subtypes were detected. Blastocystis prevalence and STs were not related to any of the demographic, socioeconomic and epidemiological factors.
ABSTRACT
Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is part of the Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms. It is characterized by an increased risk of thromboembolic events and also to a ...certain degree hypermetabolic symptoms. The gut microbiota is an important initiator of hematopoiesis and regulation of the immune system, but in patients with ET, where inflammation is a hallmark of the disease, it is vastly unexplored. In this study, we compared the gut microbiota via amplicon-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3–V4 region in 54 patients with ET according to mutation status Janus-kinase 2 (
JAK2V617F
)-positive vs
JAK2V617F
-negative patients with ET, and in 42 healthy controls (HCs). Gut microbiota richness was higher in patients with ET (median-observed richness, 283.5; range, 75–535) compared with HCs (median-observed richness, 191.5; range, 111–300;
P
< 0.001). Patients with ET had a different overall bacterial composition (beta diversity) than HCs (analysis of similarities ANOSIM;
R
= 0.063,
P
= 0.004). Patients with ET had a significantly lower relative abundance of taxa within the
Firmicutes
phylum compared with HCs (51% vs 59%,
P
= 0.03), and within that phylum, patients with ET also had a lower relative abundance of the genus
Faecalibacterium
(8% vs 15%,
P
< 0.001), an important immunoregulative bacterium. The microbiota signatures were more pronounced in patients harboring the
JAK2V617F
mutation, and highly similar to patients with polycythemia vera as previously described. These findings suggest that patients with ET may have an altered immune regulation; however, whether this dysregulation is induced in part by, or is itself inducing, an altered gut microbiota remains to be investigated.
IMPORTANCE
Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a cancer characterized by thrombocyte overproduction. Inflammation has been shown to be vital in both the initiation and progression of other myeloproliferative neoplasms, and it is well known that the gut microbiota is important in the regulation of our immune system. However, the gut microbiota of patients with ET remains uninvestigated. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiota of patients with ET compared with healthy controls and thereby provide new insights into the field. We show that the gut microbiota of patients with ET differs significantly from that of healthy controls and the patients with ET have a lower relative abundance of important immunoregulative bacteria. Furthermore, we demonstrate that patients with
JAK2V617F
-positive ET have pronounced gut microbiota signatures compared with
JAK2V617F
-negative patients. Thereby confirming the importance of the underlying mutation, the immune response as well as the composition of the microbiota.
Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a cancer characterized by thrombocyte overproduction. Inflammation has been shown to be vital in both the initiation and progression of other myeloproliferative neoplasms, and it is well known that the gut microbiota is important in the regulation of our immune system. However, the gut microbiota of patients with ET remains uninvestigated. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiota of patients with ET compared with healthy controls and thereby provide new insights into the field. We show that the gut microbiota of patients with ET differs significantly from that of healthy controls and the patients with ET have a lower relative abundance of important immunoregulative bacteria. Furthermore, we demonstrate that patients with
JAK2V617F
-positive ET have pronounced gut microbiota signatures compared with
JAK2V617F
-negative patients. Thereby confirming the importance of the underlying mutation, the immune response as well as the composition of the microbiota.
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