Molecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolates from a tertiary children’s hospital in Guangzhou, China, establishing an association between bacterial colonization and food allergies in infants
Abstract Background Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most common types of food allergy in infants. Faecal pathogen cultures showed that the positive rate of Clostridium perfringens was more than 30%, which was significantly higher than that for other bacteria. Therefore, it is specula...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Gut Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-023-00572-x |
| _version_ | 1797559406880096256 |
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| author | Kun-yi Huang Bing-shao Liang Xiao-yan Zhang Huan Chen Ni Ma Jiao-li Lan Ding-You Li Zhen-wen Zhou Min Yang |
| author_facet | Kun-yi Huang Bing-shao Liang Xiao-yan Zhang Huan Chen Ni Ma Jiao-li Lan Ding-You Li Zhen-wen Zhou Min Yang |
| author_sort | Kun-yi Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most common types of food allergy in infants. Faecal pathogen cultures showed that the positive rate of Clostridium perfringens was more than 30%, which was significantly higher than that for other bacteria. Therefore, it is speculated that Clostridium perfringens colonization may be one of the pathogenetic factors for CMPA in infants. We conducted a real-world evidence study. Infants aged 0–6 months with diarrhoea and mucoid and/or bloody stools were recruited from a large tertiary hospital in China. Faecal pathogen cultures for the detection of Clostridium perfringens were confirmed by flight mass spectrometry, and potential toxin genes were identified using PCR. After 12 months of follow-up, the diagnoses of CMPA and food allergy were recorded. The correlation was assessed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results In this study, 358 infants aged 0–6 months with gastrointestinal symptoms and faecal pathogen cultures were recruited. A total of 270 (44.07% girls; mean age, 2.78 ± 2.84 months) infants were followed up for 12 months. Overall, the rate of positivity for Clostridium perfringens in faecal pathogen cultures was 35.75% (128/358) in infants aged ≤ 6 months. The earliest Clostridium perfringens colonization was detected within 2 days after birth. The majority of Clostridium perfringens isolates were classified as type C in 85 stool samples. In the Clostridium perfringens-positive group, 48.21% (54/112) of infants were clinically diagnosed with food allergies after 12 months, including 37.5% (42/112) with CMPA, which was significantly higher than that of the negative group, with 7.59% (12/158) exhibiting food allergies and 5.06% (8/158) presenting CMPA (P < 0.0001). Faecal Clostridium perfringens positivity was significantly correlated with CMPA, food allergy, faecal occult blood, faecal white blood cells, antibiotic use, increased peripheral blood platelet counts, and decreased haemoglobin levels (P < 0.0001). Conclusions This study demonstrates that intestinal colonization by Clostridium perfringens is common in infants. The majority of Clostridium perfringens isolates are classified as type C. Colonization of the intestine by Clostridium perfringens is associated with the development of CMPA and food allergy in infants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:44:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77c629f7f11c436593a3c5dea545d961 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1757-4749 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:44:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gut Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-77c629f7f11c436593a3c5dea545d9612023-11-20T09:33:08ZengBMCGut Pathogens1757-47492023-10-011511910.1186/s13099-023-00572-xMolecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolates from a tertiary children’s hospital in Guangzhou, China, establishing an association between bacterial colonization and food allergies in infantsKun-yi Huang0Bing-shao Liang1Xiao-yan Zhang2Huan Chen3Ni Ma4Jiao-li Lan5Ding-You Li6Zhen-wen Zhou7Min Yang8Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical UniversityDivision of Gastroenterology, Children’s Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City School of MedicineClinical Laboratory, Longgang Maternity and Child Institute of Shantou University Medical College (Longgang District Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City)Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Background Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most common types of food allergy in infants. Faecal pathogen cultures showed that the positive rate of Clostridium perfringens was more than 30%, which was significantly higher than that for other bacteria. Therefore, it is speculated that Clostridium perfringens colonization may be one of the pathogenetic factors for CMPA in infants. We conducted a real-world evidence study. Infants aged 0–6 months with diarrhoea and mucoid and/or bloody stools were recruited from a large tertiary hospital in China. Faecal pathogen cultures for the detection of Clostridium perfringens were confirmed by flight mass spectrometry, and potential toxin genes were identified using PCR. After 12 months of follow-up, the diagnoses of CMPA and food allergy were recorded. The correlation was assessed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results In this study, 358 infants aged 0–6 months with gastrointestinal symptoms and faecal pathogen cultures were recruited. A total of 270 (44.07% girls; mean age, 2.78 ± 2.84 months) infants were followed up for 12 months. Overall, the rate of positivity for Clostridium perfringens in faecal pathogen cultures was 35.75% (128/358) in infants aged ≤ 6 months. The earliest Clostridium perfringens colonization was detected within 2 days after birth. The majority of Clostridium perfringens isolates were classified as type C in 85 stool samples. In the Clostridium perfringens-positive group, 48.21% (54/112) of infants were clinically diagnosed with food allergies after 12 months, including 37.5% (42/112) with CMPA, which was significantly higher than that of the negative group, with 7.59% (12/158) exhibiting food allergies and 5.06% (8/158) presenting CMPA (P < 0.0001). Faecal Clostridium perfringens positivity was significantly correlated with CMPA, food allergy, faecal occult blood, faecal white blood cells, antibiotic use, increased peripheral blood platelet counts, and decreased haemoglobin levels (P < 0.0001). Conclusions This study demonstrates that intestinal colonization by Clostridium perfringens is common in infants. The majority of Clostridium perfringens isolates are classified as type C. Colonization of the intestine by Clostridium perfringens is associated with the development of CMPA and food allergy in infants.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-023-00572-xClostridium perfringensFood allergyCow's milk protein allergyInfants |
| spellingShingle | Kun-yi Huang Bing-shao Liang Xiao-yan Zhang Huan Chen Ni Ma Jiao-li Lan Ding-You Li Zhen-wen Zhou Min Yang Molecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolates from a tertiary children’s hospital in Guangzhou, China, establishing an association between bacterial colonization and food allergies in infants Gut Pathogens Clostridium perfringens Food allergy Cow's milk protein allergy Infants |
| title | Molecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolates from a tertiary children’s hospital in Guangzhou, China, establishing an association between bacterial colonization and food allergies in infants |
| title_full | Molecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolates from a tertiary children’s hospital in Guangzhou, China, establishing an association between bacterial colonization and food allergies in infants |
| title_fullStr | Molecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolates from a tertiary children’s hospital in Guangzhou, China, establishing an association between bacterial colonization and food allergies in infants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolates from a tertiary children’s hospital in Guangzhou, China, establishing an association between bacterial colonization and food allergies in infants |
| title_short | Molecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolates from a tertiary children’s hospital in Guangzhou, China, establishing an association between bacterial colonization and food allergies in infants |
| title_sort | molecular characterization of clostridium perfringens isolates from a tertiary children s hospital in guangzhou china establishing an association between bacterial colonization and food allergies in infants |
| topic | Clostridium perfringens Food allergy Cow's milk protein allergy Infants |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-023-00572-x |
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