Association between histo-blood group antigens and Pseudomonas aeruginosaassociated diarrheal diseases

Abstract

Abstract Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not a common enteric pathogen. The association between human histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) and P. aeruginosa enteric infection has not yet been studied. Methods: We collected stool samples from healthy children under 2 years of age for P. aeruginosa gut colonization rate. Saliva samples were collected from patients with P. aeruginosaassociated diarrheal diseases and normal healthy children. Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva samples for ABO blood group typing and FUT2 genotyping. Lewis phenotype was detected using ELISA assay. Results: A total of 85 patients with P. aeruginosa-associated diarrheal diseases and 105 healthy children were enrolled for collecting saliva specimens. The stool colonization rate was 5/101 (5%) in healthy children, 4/58 (6.9%) in infants, and 1/43 (2.3%) in children 1e2 years old, respectively. Blood group A was more frequent in patients with P. aeruginosa-associated diarrheal diseases 24/77 (31.2%) than in healthy children 18/102 (17.6%) (P Z 0.035). All patients and healthy children were secretor positive. The distribution of weak-secretor genotype Se385/ Se385 was 23/84 (27.4%) in patients with P. aeruginosa-associated diarrheal diseases and 17/ 104 (16.3%) in healthy children, respectively (P Z 0.06). Patients with P. aeruginosa-associated diarrheal diseases had a higher percentage of Leaþbþ phenotype 25/81 (30.9%) than healthy children 17/105 (16.2%) (P Z 0.018). There was no association between ABO or secretor or Lewis status with the clinical severity of P. aeruginosa-associated diarrheal diseases. Conclusion: Infants had a higher gut P. aeruginosa colonization rate than children. Children with blood group A and Leaþbþ phenotype are prone to P. aeruginosa-associated diarrheal diseases.