Universität zu Köln

Di Cristanziano, Veronica, D'Alfonso, Rossella, Berrilli, Federica, Sarfo, Fred Stephen, Santoro, Maristella, Fabeni, Lavinia ORCID: 0000-0002-2975-8611, Knops, Elena, Heger, Eva, Kaiser, Rolf, Dompreh, Albert, Phillips, Richard Odame, Norman, Betty, Feldt, Torsten and Eberhardt, Kirsten Alexandra (2019). Lower prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infections in HIV positive compared to HIV negative adults in Ghana. PLoS One, 14 (9). SAN FRANCISCO: PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. ISSN 1932-6203

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Abstract

Background Sub-Saharan Africa is endemic for intestinal parasites and distinguished for the largest burden of HIV cases. Blastocystis sp. is one of the most common protists infecting humans but its role in human disease is still controversial. Aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in HIV positive and negative adults in Ghana and its association with immune status and other risk factors. Methods 122 HIV positive outpatients and 70 HIV negative blood donors from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, were included in the present study. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and HIV positive patients distinguished for CD4+ T cell count <200 cells/mu l (n = 54) and >200 cells/mu l (n = 68). A Blastocystis's phylogenetic analysis was performed to determine sample subtype (ST). Results The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in adult HIV positive individuals was lower than in HIV negative persons (6.6% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.008) and Blastocystis sp. ST1 was the most prevalent strain. Within HIV positive participants, the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was lower in those individuals with CD4+ T cell count <200 cells/mu l than in patients with higher CD4+ T cell count (1.9% vs. 10.3%, p = 0.076). Multiple regression analysis revealed that Blastocystis sp. was inversely associated with an obese Body Mass Index (BMI) in HIV negative persons (p = 0.040). Presence of Blastocystis sp. was correlated with higher CD4+ T cell count in HIV positive participants (p = 0.049). Conclusion It is largely reported that people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Africa are affected from parasite infections and that co-infections may adversely impact on their immune status, accelerating progress to AIDS and worsening gastrointestinal manifestations. Differently, in this study Blastocystis sp. was associated with a better immune status jointly with a healthy body weight while it seems to be reduced with the progression of HIV infection. This data agree with recent suggestions that Blastocystis sp. can represent a component of the healthy gut microbiota.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Di Cristanziano, Veronica UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED D'Alfonso, Rossella UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Berrilli, Federica UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Sarfo, Fred Stephen UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Santoro, Maristella UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Fabeni, Lavinia UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-2975-8611 UNSPECIFIED Knops, Elena UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Heger, Eva UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kaiser, Rolf UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Dompreh, Albert UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Phillips, Richard Odame UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Norman, Betty UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Feldt, Torsten UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Eberhardt, Kirsten Alexandra UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-141762
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0221968
Journal or Publication Title:	PLoS One
Volume:	14
Number:	9
Date:	2019
Publisher:	PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
Place of Publication:	SAN FRANCISCO
ISSN:	1932-6203
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOGEN PANEL; PARASITIC INFECTIONS; INTESTINAL PARASITES; HIV/AIDS; CLASSIFICATION; IDENTIFICATION; INDIVIDUALS; DISEASE; OBESITY; HUMANS Multiple languages Multidisciplinary Sciences Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/14176