Evaluation of ocular surface microbiota in children with blepharoconjunctivitis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Microbiology
• Genomics

Background:

• Blepharoconjunctivitis is a common ocular surface inflammation in children.
• The role of the ocular surface microbiota in pediatric blepharoconjunctivitis is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the conjunctival and eyelid margin bacterial microbiota in children with blepharoconjunctivitis using 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) amplicon sequencing.
• To compare microbial diversity and composition between children with blepharoconjunctivitis and a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cross-sectional study involving 20 children with blepharoconjunctivitis (Blepharitis Group) and 21 healthy children (Control Group).
• Ocular surface swab samples were collected for bacterial analysis.
• Alpha diversity was assessed using Shannon's, Simpson, and Chao indices.
• Beta diversity was evaluated using the Bray Curtis index.

Main Results:

• Microbiological diversity was significantly higher in the blepharitis group compared to the control group (p < 0.0001 for Shannon's and Simpson indices, p = 0.00235 for Chao index).
• Beta diversity analysis revealed distinct microbiome profiles between the groups, with lower overlap in the blepharitis group.
• Elevated densities of specific bacteria, including Sphingomonas, Micrococcus, and Veillonella, were observed in children with blepharoconjunctivitis.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric blepharoconjunctivitis is associated with significantly altered alpha and beta diversity of the ocular surface microbiota.
• Specific bacterial taxa, such as Micrococcus and Veillonella, may play a role in the pathogenesis of pediatric blepharoconjunctivitis.
• These findings suggest potential avenues for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting the ocular microbiome.