Detection of Fungal Translocation in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder Using a Real-Time PCR Assay

Gut microbiota plays a key role in triggering various diseases. However, translocation studies focus on bacteria, neglecting fungal elements, while fungi seem also involved in triggering various diseases. Aim of this study was to assess whether fungal elements were able to translocate in patients with AUD (alcohol use disorder) and to verify if withdrawal from alcohol was beneficial on such translocation. Sixty-five patients with AUD were included. Blood samples were collected at baseline and 3 and 6 weeks after alcohol withdrawal. Total DNA was extracted from blood. Fungal DNA was searched by qRT-PCR with panfungal primers and sequenced to determine the species detected. Out of 42 patients tested, 30.9% (13/42) had positive signals on one or several of their samples. Identified DNAs were mostly Candida albicans. No significant variation in mean level of fungal DNA copies was found over time in these patients. No correlation was found between intestinal integrity markers and fungal translocation. Fungal DNA was found in the blood of AUD patients, showing that fungal elements can translocate across the intestinal barrier. Absence of correlation between intestinal integrity markers and fungal translocation indicates that fungal elements may be able to translocate independently of the integrity of gut barrier.