<i>Tropheryma whipplei</i>, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, and Intestinal Protozoal Co-Infections in Italian and Immigrant Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study
<i>Tropheryma whipplei</i> (TW), <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (HP), and intestinal protozoa (IP) are widespread pathogens with similar routes of transmission and epidemiological risk factors. Epidemiological data on co-infection between TW, HP, and IP are scarce. We aim to more...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-04-01
|
| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/4/769 |
| _version_ | 1797434352460627968 |
|---|---|
| author | Lucia Moro Elena Pomari Martina Leonardi Giulia La Marca Barbara Pajola Cristina Mazzi Chiara Piubelli Anna Beltrame |
| author_facet | Lucia Moro Elena Pomari Martina Leonardi Giulia La Marca Barbara Pajola Cristina Mazzi Chiara Piubelli Anna Beltrame |
| author_sort | Lucia Moro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Tropheryma whipplei</i> (TW), <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (HP), and intestinal protozoa (IP) are widespread pathogens with similar routes of transmission and epidemiological risk factors. Epidemiological data on co-infection between TW, HP, and IP are scarce. We aim to more deeply investigate the co-infection rate for these pathogens, evaluating the risk factors and symptoms. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital in Northern Italy, a referral center for tropical and Whipple’s disease (WD). Stored stool samples from 143 subjects previously tested for TW DNA by real-time PCR were explored for HP and IP DNA detection. The virulence factor <i>cagA</i> was investigated in HP-positive patients. Results: A history of migration was reported significantly more in TW-positive than in negative subjects (34.1% vs. 9.1%, <i>p</i> = 0.001) and in HP-infected than in those non-infected (59.1% vs. 9.1%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The HP infection rate differed significantly between TW-infected and uninfected groups (31.8% vs. 8.1%, <i>p</i> = 0.001), while no difference was observed for IP infection. Significantly higher TW intestinal colonization was found in HP-infected patients than in non-infected (63.6% vs. 24.8%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In addition, the proportion of Blastocysts positive finding was also significantly higher in HP-infected than in non-infected (40.9% vs. 17.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.018). Conclusions: The present study is the first to report a high TW and HP co-infection rate. To reduce the risk of morbidity from a chronic infection of either pathogen, clinicians may consider TW-HP molecular screening on the same stool sample for patients with suspected HP disease or WD, particularly in case of travel history. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:30:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3cfba316ec6041168bac66bd997a7a2d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:30:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-3cfba316ec6041168bac66bd997a7a2d2023-12-01T21:15:11ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072022-04-0110476910.3390/microorganisms10040769<i>Tropheryma whipplei</i>, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, and Intestinal Protozoal Co-Infections in Italian and Immigrant Populations: A Cross-Sectional StudyLucia Moro0Elena Pomari1Martina Leonardi2Giulia La Marca3Barbara Pajola4Cristina Mazzi5Chiara Piubelli6Anna Beltrame7Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy<i>Tropheryma whipplei</i> (TW), <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (HP), and intestinal protozoa (IP) are widespread pathogens with similar routes of transmission and epidemiological risk factors. Epidemiological data on co-infection between TW, HP, and IP are scarce. We aim to more deeply investigate the co-infection rate for these pathogens, evaluating the risk factors and symptoms. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital in Northern Italy, a referral center for tropical and Whipple’s disease (WD). Stored stool samples from 143 subjects previously tested for TW DNA by real-time PCR were explored for HP and IP DNA detection. The virulence factor <i>cagA</i> was investigated in HP-positive patients. Results: A history of migration was reported significantly more in TW-positive than in negative subjects (34.1% vs. 9.1%, <i>p</i> = 0.001) and in HP-infected than in those non-infected (59.1% vs. 9.1%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The HP infection rate differed significantly between TW-infected and uninfected groups (31.8% vs. 8.1%, <i>p</i> = 0.001), while no difference was observed for IP infection. Significantly higher TW intestinal colonization was found in HP-infected patients than in non-infected (63.6% vs. 24.8%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In addition, the proportion of Blastocysts positive finding was also significantly higher in HP-infected than in non-infected (40.9% vs. 17.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.018). Conclusions: The present study is the first to report a high TW and HP co-infection rate. To reduce the risk of morbidity from a chronic infection of either pathogen, clinicians may consider TW-HP molecular screening on the same stool sample for patients with suspected HP disease or WD, particularly in case of travel history.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/4/769<i>Thopheryma whipplei</i><i>Helicobacter pylori</i>intestinal protozoaco-infectionPCR |
| spellingShingle | Lucia Moro Elena Pomari Martina Leonardi Giulia La Marca Barbara Pajola Cristina Mazzi Chiara Piubelli Anna Beltrame <i>Tropheryma whipplei</i>, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, and Intestinal Protozoal Co-Infections in Italian and Immigrant Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study Microorganisms <i>Thopheryma whipplei</i> <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> intestinal protozoa co-infection PCR |
| title | <i>Tropheryma whipplei</i>, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, and Intestinal Protozoal Co-Infections in Italian and Immigrant Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | <i>Tropheryma whipplei</i>, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, and Intestinal Protozoal Co-Infections in Italian and Immigrant Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | <i>Tropheryma whipplei</i>, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, and Intestinal Protozoal Co-Infections in Italian and Immigrant Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Tropheryma whipplei</i>, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, and Intestinal Protozoal Co-Infections in Italian and Immigrant Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | <i>Tropheryma whipplei</i>, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, and Intestinal Protozoal Co-Infections in Italian and Immigrant Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | i tropheryma whipplei i i helicobacter pylori i and intestinal protozoal co infections in italian and immigrant populations a cross sectional study |
| topic | <i>Thopheryma whipplei</i> <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> intestinal protozoa co-infection PCR |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/4/769 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT luciamoro itropherymawhippleiiihelicobacterpyloriiandintestinalprotozoalcoinfectionsinitalianandimmigrantpopulationsacrosssectionalstudy AT elenapomari itropherymawhippleiiihelicobacterpyloriiandintestinalprotozoalcoinfectionsinitalianandimmigrantpopulationsacrosssectionalstudy AT martinaleonardi itropherymawhippleiiihelicobacterpyloriiandintestinalprotozoalcoinfectionsinitalianandimmigrantpopulationsacrosssectionalstudy AT giulialamarca itropherymawhippleiiihelicobacterpyloriiandintestinalprotozoalcoinfectionsinitalianandimmigrantpopulationsacrosssectionalstudy AT barbarapajola itropherymawhippleiiihelicobacterpyloriiandintestinalprotozoalcoinfectionsinitalianandimmigrantpopulationsacrosssectionalstudy AT cristinamazzi itropherymawhippleiiihelicobacterpyloriiandintestinalprotozoalcoinfectionsinitalianandimmigrantpopulationsacrosssectionalstudy AT chiarapiubelli itropherymawhippleiiihelicobacterpyloriiandintestinalprotozoalcoinfectionsinitalianandimmigrantpopulationsacrosssectionalstudy AT annabeltrame itropherymawhippleiiihelicobacterpyloriiandintestinalprotozoalcoinfectionsinitalianandimmigrantpopulationsacrosssectionalstudy |