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No association between abdominal pain and Dientamoeba in Dutch and Belgian children

Martijn Ramon Brands1, Els Van de Vijver2, Sjoukje Marije Haisma1

  • 1Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 25, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Dientamoeba fragilis colonization is common in healthy children and does not correlate with increased fecal calprotectin. This suggests D. fragilis is not a gut pathogen, and routine testing in children with abdominal pain is not recommended.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Dientamoeba fragilis is a common intestinal parasite.
  • Its role as a gut pathogen or harmless commensal remains debated.
  • Faecal calprotectin is a biomarker for gastrointestinal inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between Dientamoeba fragilis colonization and faecal calprotectin levels.
  • To determine if D. fragilis is a pathogenic parasite in children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study analyzed stool samples from children with chronic abdominal pain and healthy controls.
  • Samples were tested for D. fragilis using real-time PCR.
  • Faecal calprotectin was measured using ELISA.

Main Results:

  • D. fragilis was detected in 45% of patients and 71% of healthy children.
  • No significant difference in faecal calprotectin levels was observed between children with and without D. fragilis colonization.
  • Higher prevalence of D. fragilis was found in healthy children compared to those with abdominal pain.

Conclusions:

  • D. fragilis colonization is not associated with increased faecal calprotectin.
  • The findings do not support D. fragilis as a cause of gastrointestinal inflammation or a gut pathogen.
  • Routine testing for D. fragilis in children with chronic abdominal pain is not advised.
Abstract

Keywords:
calprotectindientamoebiasispathogenicityprevalencereal-time pcr

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