Ascierto Marianna, Chianese Annalisa, Foglia Francesco, Finamore Emiliana, Petrullo Luciana, Zannella Carla, De Filippis Anna, Coppola Maria Grazia, Galdiero Massimiliano
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy.
Complex Operative Unit of Virology and Microbiology, University Hospital of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy.
Pathogens. 2025 Apr 27;14(5):425. doi: 10.3390/pathogens14050425.
spp. is a common protozoan found in the gastrointestinal tract, typically existing as a non-pathogenic organism in humans and other animals. However, it can become pathogenic when the immune system is compromised due to bacterial, viral, fungal, or other parasitic infections, as well as systemic conditions, leading to symptomatic blastocystosis.
Fecal samples were collected from patients at the University Hospital of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" and Cotugno Hospital in Naples. Among these samples, those that tested positive for spp. and were associated with other microbial infections were further analyzed. Bacterial co-infections were identified using immunochromatographic tests (ICTs) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Viral infections were detected using chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA), while fungal infections were diagnosed through microscopic examination and molecular biology techniques. Additionally, co-infections with other parasites were identified through microscopic analysis after Ridley's concentration and Giemsa staining (O&P).
Out of the 2050 stool samples collected, 121 were positive for spp., of which 75 were associated with other infections. We identified the vacuolar form in patients co-infected with bacteria ( = 22), viruses ( = 30), fungi ( = 3), and other parasites ( = 20).
Our findings indicated a higher incidence of the vacuolar form of spp. in symptomatic and immunocompromised patients, suggesting that a weakened immune system may increase the risk of contracting Blastocystis and other microbial infections.
芽囊原虫是一种常见于胃肠道的原生动物，在人类和其他动物中通常以非致病生物体的形式存在。然而，当免疫系统因细菌、病毒、真菌或其他寄生虫感染以及全身性疾病而受损时，它可能会变得致病，导致出现症状性芽囊原虫病。
从坎帕尼亚“路易吉·万维泰利”大学医院和那不勒斯的科图尼奥医院的患者中采集粪便样本。在这些样本中，对芽囊原虫检测呈阳性且与其他微生物感染相关的样本进行了进一步分析。使用免疫层析试验（ICTs）和基质辅助激光解吸/电离飞行时间质谱（MALDI-TOF MS）鉴定细菌合并感染。使用化学发光免疫分析（CLIA）检测病毒感染，而通过显微镜检查和分子生物学技术诊断真菌感染。此外，通过里德利浓缩法和吉姆萨染色（粪便检查）后的显微镜分析鉴定与其他寄生虫的合并感染。
在收集的2050份粪便样本中，121份芽囊原虫检测呈阳性，其中75份与其他感染相关。我们在合并感染细菌（n = 22）、病毒（n = 30）、真菌（n = 3）和其他寄生虫（n = 20）的患者中发现了空泡型。
我们的研究结果表明，有症状和免疫功能低下的患者中空泡型芽囊原虫的发生率较高，这表明免疫系统减弱可能会增加感染芽囊原虫和其他微生物感染的风险。
