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DETECTION OF LACTOBACILLI IN MONTHLY MAIL-IN STOOL SAMPLES FROM 3-18 MONTHS OLD INFANTS AT GENETIC RISK FOR TYPE 1
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University/CRC, Skåne University Hospital SUS, Malmö, Sweden.
International Journal of Probiotics & Prebiotics
|July 22, 2014
Summary
Detecting lactobacilli in infant stool samples is feasible. Mail-in samples from the TEDDY study showed significant variability in total lactobacilli and Lactobacillus plantarum content, especially in younger infants.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Lactobacilli are key gut bacteria influencing infant health.
- Assessing infant gut microbiota composition is crucial for understanding early life development.
- Mail-in stool sample collection offers a convenient method for longitudinal infant microbiome studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of detecting lactobacilli in monthly mail-in infant stool samples.
- To quantify total lactobacilli and Lactobacillus plantarum levels in infants aged 3-18 months.
- To analyze variations in lactobacilli content across different geographic sites and age groups.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1937 mail-in stool samples from 150 infants (50 per site) in the TEDDY study (Colorado, Finland, Sweden).
- Monthly collection of stool samples from infants aged 3-18 months.
- Quantification of total lactobacilli and Lactobacillus plantarum using quantitative methods (ng/g feces).
Main Results:
- Lactobacilli detection in mail-in infant stool samples was feasible.
- Total lactobacilli content varied significantly (5–16,800 ng/g feces) within and between individuals and sites.
- Lactobacillus plantarum also showed marked intra- and inter-individual variation (<0.5–736 ng/g feces).
- Higher variability in total lactobacilli was observed before 10 months of age.
- Sweden exhibited lower total lactobacilli but higher Lactobacillus plantarum content compared to Colorado and Finland.
Conclusions:
- Mail-in stool samples are a viable tool for analyzing probiotics in childhood.
- Infant gut microbiota, specifically lactobacilli, display substantial variability in early life.
- Longitudinal monitoring of infant gut bacteria via mail-in samples can provide valuable insights into microbial dynamics.
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