Detection of Sutterella in the Stool of Egyptian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Nancy Younis Omar
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
Shwikar M. Abdelsalam Ahmed
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
Hanan Azouz
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
Sarah Magdy Abdelhamid *
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Egypt.
Naglaa Moustafa Abdelaziz
Ministry of Health Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted group of neurodevelopmental disorders. Gastrointestinal problems are commonly reported in children with autism and may correlate with autism severity. A recent study reported that Sutterella species were frequently found in individuals with autism that was not found in controls.
Aim: The aim of the present study was to study the role of Sutterella species in Egyptian children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).
Methods: Thirty children diagnosed with ASDs according to DMS-V criteria aged between 2.5-8 years old together with a cross matching control group of 30 healthy neurotypical children were included in the present study. Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed with a modified six-item GI Severity Index (6-GSI) questionnaire. Stool specimens were taken for detection of Sutterella by the Conventional PCR using primers that amplify a 260-bp region spanning the variable regions from V6 to V8 of the 16S rRNA gene.
Results: Sutterella species was detected in 24 cases out of 30 ASD patients (80%), and in 11 (36.7%) out of the control cases. There was no significant correlation between the presence of Sutterella and the severity of ASD or GSI.
Conclusion: These results indicate that Sutterella species may have a role in ASD.
Keywords: Autism, Sutterella, PCR, 16S rRNA, ASD, stool