Gut Microbiota Dysbiotic Pattern and Its Associated Factors in a Cameroonian Cohort with and without HIV Infection
Simon Eyongabane Ako *
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon, Infectious Disease Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon and Medical Research and Bacteriology Laboratory, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
Eric Achidi Akum
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon, Infectious Disease Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon and Central Africa Network for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (CANTAM/EDCTP), Republic of Congo.
Jules Clement N. Assob
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon, Medical Research and Bacteriology Laboratory, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon and Medical Research and Applied Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
Céline Nguefeu Nkenfou
Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CBIRC), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Pokam Thumamo Benjamin
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
Enoh Jude Eteneneng
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon, Infectious Disease Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon and Laboratory of Endocrinology and Radio-elements, Medical Research Center, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Cameroon.
Cho Frederick Nchang
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon and Infectious Disease Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
Mbanya Gladice Mbanya
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon and Medical Research and Bacteriology Laboratory, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To compare the gut microbiota dysbiotic pattern between the HIV-negative individual and HIV-positive patients with /or without first-line ARV and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis treatment through culture-dependent technique. And additionally to access the associations of gut microbiota at the genus level with sociodemographic and clinical factors.
Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Participants were selected from the South West region at the Buea Regional Hospital UPEC unit. The study spanned from August 2018 to April 2019.
Methodology: We included 160 participants. Fecal and blood samples were collected from HIV-negative individuals (n=40), HIV-positive treatment naïve (n=40), HIV-positive + ARV (n=40) and HIV-positive + ARV + Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (n=40). A self-structured questionnaire was administered to collect sociodemographic data. The stool samples were plated using three non-selective and ten selective media and colonies were identified using biochemical characterization methods. The CD4+ T cells (cells/mm3) count were evaluated with BD FACSCount System. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Categorical variables were analysed using the Chi-square test and multinomial Logistic regression analysis was used to verify associations between variables.
Results: The HIV-treatment naïve individual fecal samples showed a significantly increased growth occurrence for Candida (P < .001) and Fusobacteria (P < .001); and a decreased growth occurrence for Enterobacteriaceae family (P < .001), Staphylococcus (P < .001), Lactobacillus (P < .001) and Bifidobacteria (P < .001) compared to those of HIV-negative individuals. HIV-positive individuals on ARV and Cotrimoxazole had their stool samples showing a significantly decreased growth occurrence for Escherichia (P = .014), Salmonella (P = .002) and Staphylococcus (P = .04) compared to HIV-positive patients on ARV only. Increased growth occurrence of particular gut microbiota among participants was more likely associated with age, origin, residence community, occupation, drink, diet, and CD4+T cell count.
Conclusion: Our findings uncover dysbiotic changes at the genus level in the gut through culture-dependent technique in an adult Cameroonian population. The study enriched our insight on the effect of ART and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in promoting dysbiosis towards a positive outcome by lowering pathobionts levels. Additionally, we revealed associations of sociodemographic and clinical factors with the occurrence of particular gut microbiota, thus reiterating the need for more in-depth and longitudinal studies to corroborate our findings.
Keywords: Culturable, gut microbiota, HIV, antiretroviral, cotrimoxazole, dysbiosis, factors, Cameroon