Related Experiment Videos
Protozoon infections and intestinal permeability
Hande Dagci1, Sebnem Ustun, Memduh S Taner
1Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, University of Ege, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. hdagci@med.ege.edu.tr
Abstract:
Intestinal permeability (IP) studies using some macromolecules have been assumed to demonstrate the intactness of intestinal mucosa. The aim of the present study is to determine the changes in IP among patients with protozoan infections. Thirty nine patients with protozoan infections and ten healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Protozoa were diagnosed by Native-lugol, Richie and Trichrome staining of faeces. IP was evaluated by diethyl triamine penta acetic acid labeled with 99m Technetium (99mTc labeled DTPA) assay. The IP was found to have increased in patients with protozoan infections compared with control patients (7.20+/-5.52 vs. 4.47+/-0.65%, P=0.0017). The IP values were 9.91+/-10.05% in Giardia intestinalis group, 6.81+/-2.25% in Blastocystis hominis group, 5.78+/-2.84% in Entamoeba coli group. In comparison with the control group, the IP was significantly higher in G. intestinalis and B. hominis patients (P=0.0025, P=0.00037, respectively), but not in E. coli patients. In conclusion, the IP increases in patients with G. intestinalis and B. hominis but not with E. coli infection. This finding supports the view that IP increases during the course of protozoan infections which cause damage to the intestinal wall while non-pathogenic protozoan infections have no effect on IP. The increase in IP in patients with B. hominis brings forth the idea that B. hominis can be a pathogenic protozoan.
Insights
Protozoan infections like Giardia intestinalis and Blastocystis hominis significantly increase intestinal permeability, indicating gut wall damage. Entamoeba coli infections did not affect intestinal permeability in this study.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Intestinal permeability (IP) is a key indicator of gut barrier function.
- Previous studies often used macromolecules to assess IP, assuming mucosal integrity.
- The impact of specific protozoan infections on IP requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in intestinal permeability in patients with protozoan infections.
- To differentiate the effects of pathogenic versus non-pathogenic protozoa on IP.
- To evaluate the potential pathogenicity of Blastocystis hominis based on IP changes.
Main Methods:
- Study included 39 patients with protozoan infections and 10 healthy controls.
- Protozoa were identified using Native-lugol, Richie, and Trichrome staining of fecal samples.
- Intestinal permeability was quantified using a 99mTechnetium labeled diethyl triamine penta acetic acid (99mTc labeled DTPA) assay.
Main Results:
- Overall IP was significantly higher in patients with protozoan infections compared to controls (7.20% vs. 4.47%, P=0.0017).
- IP was significantly elevated in patients infected with Giardia intestinalis (9.91%) and Blastocystis hominis (6.81%) compared to controls (P=0.0025 and P=0.00037, respectively).
- No significant increase in IP was observed in patients with Entamoeba coli infections (5.78%).
Conclusions:
- Intestinal permeability increases in patients with Giardia intestinalis and Blastocystis hominis infections, suggesting intestinal wall damage.
- Non-pathogenic protozoan infections, such as Entamoeba coli, do not appear to affect intestinal permeability.
- The observed increase in IP associated with Blastocystis hominis suggests it may act as a pathogenic protozoan.