Oncostatin level and Tumour necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphism in predicting Blastocystis infection in...

This study investigated the prevalence of Blastocystis spp. infection and serum oncostatin M (OSM) levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and examined their association with Blastocystis subtypes and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene polymorphisms.

This case-control study included 300 participants. Stool samples were examined microscopically and molecularly to detect Blastocystis and identify its subtypes. Serum OSM levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TNF-α polymorphisms at positions -1031T/C and -308G/A were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Blastocystis infection was detected in 59.5% of patients with IBD compared with 19.0% of healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Two subtypes, ST1 and ST3, were identified, with ST1 being significantly more common in patients with IBD than in controls (P = 0.009). Serum OSM levels were significantly higher in patients with IBD than in controls and were further elevated in Blastocystis-infected patients with IBD compared with non-infected patients (P < 0.0001). OSM levels were also significantly higher in patients infected with ST1 than in those infected with ST3 (P = 0.0004). Significant associations were observed between the TNF-α -308G/A polymorphism and IBD susceptibility, while a trend toward an association was noted for the -1031T/C polymorphism. Genotype and allele frequencies differed significantly between patients infected with Blastocystis ST1 and those infected with ST3 (P < 0.05).

Elevated OSM levels and TNF-α polymorphisms are associated with IBD and Blastocystis ST1 infection and may serve as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and personalized disease management.