Lactobacillus & Bifidobacterium of Patients with Strongyloidiasis Compared to the Control Group

Kazeminejad, Arezou; Beigom Kia, Eshrat; Bagheri-josheghani, Sareh; Fahimfar, Noshin; Darabi, Enayat; Fakhrieh, Zohreh

doi:10.32592/ARI.2025.80.4.917

Lactobacillus & Bifidobacterium of Patients with Strongyloidiasis Compared to the Control Group

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

² Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.

³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

10.32592/ARI.2025.80.4.917

Abstract

In individuals with compromised immune systems, strongyloidiasis disease can lead to
disseminated infections that can be fatal if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. The human
gut is composed of numerous bacteria that play essential roles in the development of acquired
immunity, and protection against pathogenic factors.
This case-control study was conducted on individuals who were referred to the Diagnostic
Laboratory of Strongyloidiasis in the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical
Sciences. After DNA extraction from fecal samples, the 16SrRNA gene was examined using
Real-time PCR. The levels of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidium were
calculated in both groups (one group consisted of individuals suspected of strongyloidiasis
compared with the other group with no underlying disease). Finally, the collected data were
analyzed.
Out of 28 people participants in this study, 16 (57%) were men and 12 (43%) were women,
with age ranging from 43 to 76 years. A statistically significant relationship was observed
between underlying diseases, vegetable washing practices, and clinical symptoms of
strongyloidiasis. DNA extraction from the fecal samples was performed using the DNA
Extraction kit. The average level of L. acidophilus and B. bifidium were (4.07250±3.132533)
10 12 × and, (6.12857±3.519169) 10 12 × in the case group respectively, which were lower
compared to the control group but no significant association was found between the level of
bacterial in the case and control groups and the incidence of strongyloidiasis (p > 0.05), there
had (7.04733± 6.542372) 10 12 ×and (8.36643± 4.754185) 1012× respectively. The odds ratio
was L. acidophilus and B. bifidium 1.13 and 1.14, respectively.
It was observed that for each increase in the number of 10 12 in the microliter for
L.acidophilus and B. bifidium in the individual’s intestines in areas endemic for
strongyloidiasis, the chances of contracting this disease decreased by 13% and 14%,
respectively. Future studies with a higher volume considering age, gender and other
physiological factors related to strongyloidiasis are suggested.

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