DIENTAMOEBA FRAGILIS AND GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS: EFFICACY OF DIAGNOSTIC METHODS AND GENOTYPE-SYMPTOM CORRELATION

Öz

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between Dientamoeba fragilis and gastrointestinal symptoms, assess the effectiveness of various diagnostic methods, and determine the correlation between genotypes and clinical manifestations. Material and Methods: Stool samples were collected from 116 patients with gastrointestinal complaints. The presence of D. frag ilis was investigated using culture methods (BD and LS media) and molecular techniques (real-time PCR and conventional PCR). Positive samples were subjected to sequencing analysis for geno typing. Results: D. fragilis was detected in 18 out of 116 patients (15.52%) using PCR, whereas culture methods identified only 9 positive cases (7.75%). A statistically significant difference was observed between the molecular and culture methods (p<0.001). All D. frag ilis samples belonged to Genotype 1. The most common symptoms were diarrhoea (76.9%) and abdominal pain (61.5%); however, no significant correlation was found between genotype and clinical symptoms. Conclusion: Real-time PCR was the most sensitive and specific diagnostic method. Genotyping results indicated no association between D. fragilis genotypes and clinical manifestations. Further studies are needed to explore additional genomic targets to better understand the pathogenic potential of D. fragilis.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dientamoeba fragilis
• culture
• genotyping

DIENTAMOEBA FRAGILIS VE GASTROİNTESTİNAL SEMPTOMLAR: TANI YÖNTEMLERİNİN ETKİNLİĞİ VE GENOTİP-BULGU İLİŞKİSİ

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, Dientamoeba fragilis ile gastrointestinal semp tomlar arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmayı, farklı tanı yöntemlerinin etkinliğini değerlendirmeyi ve genotipler ile klinik bulgular arasın daki korelasyonu belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Gastrointestinal şikayetleri olan 116 hastadan dışkı örnekleri toplandı. D. fragilis varlığı kültür yöntemleri (BD ve LS besiyerleri) ve moleküler teknikler (real-time PCR ve konvan siyonel PCR) kullanılarak araştırıldı. Pozitif örnekler genotipleme amacıyla sekans analizine tabi tutuldu. Bulgular: PCR ile 116 hastanın 18’inde (%15,52) D. fragilis saptandı. Buna karşın, kültür yöntemleri yalnızca 9 pozitif vaka (%7,75) belirledi. Moleküler yöntemler ile kültür yöntemleri arasında ista tistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulundu (p<0,001). Tüm D. fragilis örnekleri Genotip 1 olarak tanımlandı. En yaygın semptomlar ishal (%76,9) ve karın ağrısı (%61,5) idi; ancak, genotip ile klinik semp tomlar arasında anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmadı. Sonuç: Real-time PCR, en duyarlı ve spesifik tanı yöntemi olarak belirlendi. Genotipleme sonuçları, D. fragilis genotipleri ile klinik semptomlar arasında bir ilişki bulunmadığını göstermiştir. D. fragilis’in patojenite potansiyelini daha iyi anlamak için ek genomik hedeflerin araştırılmasına yönelik ileri çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dientamoeba fragilis
• kültür
• genotiplendirme

Kaynakça

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