Gut Microbial Signatures Associated with Cryptosporidiosis: A Case Series

Cryptosporidium spp. are zoonotic protozoan parasites with a global prevalence, with both gastrointestinal and pulmonary involvement. Though symptoms can often be relatively mild, they can become severe and even fatal in children under five, the elderly, and in immunocompromised individuals, making cryptosporidiosis a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in fragile populations. Furthermore, there is an urgent clinical need for alternative therapies against cryptosporidiosis, as currently available FDA-approved treatments are ineffective in the immunocompromised. Recent evidence in animal models suggests that the gut microbiota (GM) can influence both host and parasite biology to influence the course of Cryptosporidium infection. Here, we present GM profiles in five cases of cryptosporidiosis, associated with varying underlying pathologies. We found that moderate-severe cryptosporidiosis was characterized by a reduction in alpha-diversity and an enrichment of Enterococcus spp., while decreases in Bifidobacterium, Gemmiger, and Blautia were detectable in the milder manifestations of the disease. Our results suggest that severe cryptosporidiosis is associated with a stronger change on the GM than is age or underlying pathology. Together with previously published studies in animal models, we believe that these results suggest that the GM could be a potential therapeutic target for human patients as well, particularly in the immunocompromised for whom anti-Cryptosporidium treatment remains largely ineffective.