Biochemical Interactions of Molecularly Detected Blastocystis hominis

Biochemical Interactions of Molecularly Detected Blastocystis hominis | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Biochemical Interactions of Molecularly Detected Blastocystis hominis Enas A. El Saftawy, Marwa M. I. Ghallab, Tamer Haydara, Asmaa Ibrahim, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2789621/v2 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Abstract Background: Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) is a cosmopolitan intestinal protozoan that has been related to several gastrointestinal disturbances simulating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, the underlying pathogenicity of blastocystosis in human studies remains indistinct. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 167 stool samples from patients attending internal medicine department, Kafrelsheik university hospital were examined. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -based identification using known sequenced-tagged site (STS) primers allowed the isolation of the positive samples and genotyping of the parasite. Reducing sugar and pH were investigated in patients’ stool samples. Results: Patients who participated in the study were from both sexes where blastocystosis infection was most prevalent in the age group 20 – 29. Of 167 cases, twenty-seven (16.1%) were molecularly confirmed blastocystosis infections. Genotype 3 was solely detected. Of these, 26 (19%) cases presented with diarrhea, and 27 (17.1%) cases suffered abdominal pain. Additionally, 20 (16.8%) cases had increased flatulence, and only two patients manifested vomiting. The seasonal cycle of the parasite was explored being higher in summer and spring. Our results highlight the consistent chemical association of carbohydrate intolerance and acidic fecal pH with genotype-3 of B. hominis that seemed to augment the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) -like manifestations of the parasitic infection. Specimens positive for B. hominis showed dominant growth of E. coli. Co-culture of B. hominis with E. coli and Candida showed their eminent growth whereas the parasite was suppressed. B. hominiswith Giardia species co-infections showed a significant rise in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme in fecal samples compared with B.hominis solely. Conclusion: there is an association between Blastocystis hominis infections and carbohydrate intolerance and fecal acidity. B. hominis was observed to be closely related to IBS-like manifestations with the dominatingly isolated genotype-3. Also, B. hominis appeared to have an enhancing effect on the growth of E. coli and C. non-albicans. Blastocystosis seemed to heve damaging effects on the cells of the intestinal brush border especially when co-existing with Giardia sp. thus increasing levels of LDH. Blastocystis hominis PCR pH reducing sugar lactate dehydrogenase E. coli Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files TABLES.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-2789621","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":193410449,"identity":"c98a553a-cc3c-4169-bf45-3c1ca435ec28","order_by":0,"name":"Enas A. El Saftawy","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Cairo University Kasr Alainy Faculty of Medicine","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Enas","middleName":"A. El","lastName":"Saftawy","suffix":""},{"id":193410450,"identity":"0ec51acc-5747-4c8f-a73e-67c6f608fb7f","order_by":1,"name":"Marwa M. I. 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L: 100 bp ladder. Lanes 1-3: positive samples of Blastocystis subtype 3 (526pb).\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-2789621/v2/33b4f7f002793464b2d0ac57.png"},{"id":88661494,"identity":"92845dc4-18e6-449c-b3b8-00056aad9e0d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-08 21:15:17","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":543467,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExamination of the fresh fecal samples. (A) Clump of \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlastocystis hominis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e, (B) trace content of sugar using Benedict’s test, whereas (C) showed ++ sugar.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-2789621/v2/55b8067cfc771a628a712acc.png"},{"id":88661193,"identity":"9b5cbc4c-8ca6-4a3f-8b0b-81c3fa78866e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-08 21:07:17","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":623414,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMicrobiological interactions with \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eB. hominis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e. (A)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e E. coli\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e colonies on MacConkey agar plates. (B) biochemical reactions specific to \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE. coli\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e. a. L-lysine was negative, b. citrate was negative, c. TSI (triple sugar iron agar) was Acid/Acid, Gas +ve (positive), d. urease was negative, and e. indole (MIO) was positive. (C) Growth of\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e C. non albicans\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-2789621/v2/ad6a4ba984b8573cf4c5d1d0.png"},{"id":88662198,"identity":"0fde3e17-b906-4a29-a265-d01930a239da","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-08 21:31:21","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":762146,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"BiochemicalInteractionsofMolecularlyDetectedBlastocystishominis.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-2789621/v2_covered_c2afc569-7b21-490e-8212-d897d0e4c2ba.pdf"},{"id":88661190,"identity":"583939d5-929c-4bba-9bc1-08ccd708988f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-08 21:07:17","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":20760,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"TABLES.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-2789621/v2/5fe023a0f58ce1ce33efc6f2.docx"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBiochemical Interactions of Molecularly Detected Blastocystis hominis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Blastocystis hominis, PCR, pH, reducing sugar, lactate dehydrogenase, E. coli","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-2789621/v2","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2789621/v2","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eBackground: Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) is a cosmopolitan intestinal protozoan that has been related to several gastrointestinal disturbances simulating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, the underlying pathogenicity of blastocystosis in human studies remains indistinct.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMethods: In a cross-sectional study, 167 stool samples from patients attending internal medicine department, Kafrelsheik university hospital were examined. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -based identification using known sequenced-tagged site (STS) primers allowed the isolation of the positive samples and genotyping of the parasite. Reducing sugar and pH were investigated in patients’ stool samples.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResults: Patients who participated in the study were from both sexes where blastocystosis infection was most prevalent in the age group 20 – 29. Of 167 cases, twenty-seven (16.1%) were molecularly confirmed blastocystosis infections. Genotype 3 was solely detected. Of these, 26 (19%) cases presented with diarrhea, and 27 (17.1%) cases suffered abdominal pain. Additionally, 20 (16.8%) cases had increased flatulence, and only two patients manifested vomiting. The seasonal cycle of the parasite was explored being higher in summer and spring. Our results highlight the consistent chemical association of carbohydrate intolerance and acidic fecal pH with genotype-3 of B. hominis that seemed to augment the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) -like manifestations of the parasitic infection. Specimens positive for B. hominis showed dominant growth of E. coli. Co-culture of B. hominis with E. coli and Candida showed their eminent growth whereas the parasite was suppressed. B. hominiswith Giardia species co-infections showed a significant rise in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme in fecal samples compared with B.hominis solely.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConclusion: there is an association between Blastocystis hominis infections and carbohydrate intolerance and fecal acidity. B. hominis was observed to be closely related to IBS-like manifestations with the dominatingly isolated genotype-3. Also, B. hominis appeared to have an enhancing effect on the growth of E. coli and C. non-albicans. Blastocystosis seemed to heve damaging effects on the cells of the intestinal brush border especially when co-existing with Giardia sp. thus increasing levels of LDH.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Biochemical Interactions of Molecularly Detected Blastocystis hominis","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":2,"date":"2025-08-08 21:07:12","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-2789621/v2","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}},{"code":1,"date":"2023-04-19 20:42:49","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-2789621/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"55b1fd09-8682-4770-96bc-50759ea89091","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 8th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2023-05-04T01:18:42+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-08-08 21:07:12","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v2","identity":"rs-2789621","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-2789621","identity":"rs-2789621","version":["v2"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}