- Soli, Kevin, Kas, Monalisa, Maure, Tobias, Umezaki, Masahiro, Morita, Ayako, Siba, Peter, Greenhill, Andrew, Horwood, Paul
- Authors: Soli, Kevin , Kas, Monalisa , Maure, Tobias , Umezaki, Masahiro , Morita, Ayako , Siba, Peter , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease Vol. 77, no. 4 (2013), p. 321-323
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: We evaluated loop-mediated isothermal amplification end-point detection methods for Salmonella, Shigella, and Vibrio cholerae. Detection sensitivities were comparable to real-time PCR methods. The colorimetric dyes hydroxynaphthol blue and SYBR Green I showed increased sensitivity when compared to visual and automated turbidity readings. End-point colorimetric dyes promise great utility in developing settings.
- Kas, Monalisa, Maure, Tobias, Soli, Kevin, Umezaki, Masahiro, Morita, Ayako, Bebes, Sauli, Jonduo, Marinjho, Larkins, Jo-Ann, Luang-Suarkia, Dagwin, Siba, Peter, Greenhill, Andrew, Horwood, Paul
- Authors: Kas, Monalisa , Maure, Tobias , Soli, Kevin , Umezaki, Masahiro , Morita, Ayako , Bebes, Sauli , Jonduo, Marinjho , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Luang-Suarkia, Dagwin , Siba, Peter , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Papua and New Guinea Medical Journal Vol. 56, no. 3-4 (2013), p. 141-144
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: We evaluated the IP-Triple I immunochromatographic rapid test for the detection of rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus using stool samples from children with diarrhoea. The detection of norovirus and adenovirus was poor compared to polymerase chain reaction assays. However, high sensitivity (92%) and specificity (99%) were obtained for the detection of rotavirus.
- Naito, Yuichi, Morita, Ayako, Natsuhara, Kazumi, Tadokoro, Kiyoshi, Baba, Jun, Odani, Shingo, Tomitsuka, Eriko, Igai, Katsura, Tsutaya, Takumi, Yoneda, Minoru, Greenhill, Andrew, Horwood, Paul, Soli, Kevin, Phuanukoonnon, Suparat, Siba, Peter, Umezaki, Masahiro
- Authors: Naito, Yuichi , Morita, Ayako , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Baba, Jun , Odani, Shingo , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Igai, Katsura , Tsutaya, Takumi , Yoneda, Minoru , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul , Soli, Kevin , Phuanukoonnon, Suparat , Siba, Peter , Umezaki, Masahiro
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: American Journal of Physical Anthropology Vol. 158, no. 3 (2015), p. 359-370
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: We present new nitrogen isotopic discrimination factor between diets and scalp hairs (Δ15NHair-Diet: δ15NHair - δ15NDiet) for indigenous residents in three communities in the Papua New Guinea Highlands who consumed various amounts and qualities of protein. The Δ15N is important for precise evaluation of the dietary habits of human populations; in both contemporary and traditional lifestyles. Several hypotheses have been proposed regarding factors that affect Δ15N values, based largely on observations from animal feeding experiments. However, variations and factors controlling Δ15N in humans are not well understood, mainly due to the difficulty of controlling the diets of participants. Materials and Methods: These residents were studied because they have maintained relatively traditional dietary habits, which allow quantitative recording of diets. Δ15N was estimated by comparing hair δ15N values to mean dietary δ15N values calculated from the recorded intake of each food item and their δ15N values. Results: The results showed that: i) there was a significant difference in Δ15N among study locations (3.9±0.9‰ for most urbanized, 5.2±1.0‰ for medium and 5.0±0.9‰ for least urbanized communities; range=1.2-7.3‰ for all participants); and ii) estimated Δ15N values were negatively correlated with several indicators of animal protein intake (% nitrogen in diet: range=0.9-7.6%). Discussion: We hypothesize that a combination of several factors, which presumably included urea recycling and amino acid and protein recycling and/or de novo synthesis during metabolic processes, altered the Δ15N values of the participants. Am J Phys Anthropol 158:359-370, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detection of enteric viral and bacterial pathogens associated with paediatric diarrhoea in Goroka, Papua New Guinea
- Soli, Kevin, Maure, Tobias, Kas, Monalisa, Bande, Grace, Bebes, Sauli, Luang-Suarkia, Dagwin, Siba, Peter, Morita, Ayako, Umezaki, Masahiro, Greenhill, Andrew, Horwood, Paul
- Authors: Soli, Kevin , Maure, Tobias , Kas, Monalisa , Bande, Grace , Bebes, Sauli , Luang-Suarkia, Dagwin , Siba, Peter , Morita, Ayako , Umezaki, Masahiro , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 27, no. (2014), p. 54-58
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the viral and bacterial causes of acute watery diarrhoea in hospitalized children in Papua New Guinea. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on stool samples collected from 199 children (age > 5 years) admitted to the paediatric ward of Goroka General Hospital from August 2009 through November 2010. A large range of viral and bacterial enteric pathogens were targeted using real-time PCR/RT-PCR assays. Results: Young children were much more likely to be admitted with acute gastroenteritis, with 62.8% of patients aged >1 year and 88.4% aged >2 years. An enteric pathogen was detected in 69.8% (n= 138) of patients. The most commonly detected pathogens were Shigella spp (26.6%), rotavirus (25.6%), adenovirus types 40/41 (11.6%), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (11.1%), enteropathogenic E. coli (8.5%), norovirus G2 (6.0%), and Campylobacter spp (4.0%). Norovirus G1, sapovirus, and Salmonella spp were also detected, but below our statistical limit of detection. Vibrio cholerae and astrovirus were not detected in any patients. Mixed infections were detected in 22.1% of patients, with Shigella and rotavirus most commonly detected in co-infections with other pathogens. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that Shigella and rotavirus are the major pathogens associated with acute paediatric gastroenteritis in this setting. © 2014 The Authors.
- Authors: Soli, Kevin , Maure, Tobias , Kas, Monalisa , Bande, Grace , Bebes, Sauli , Luang-Suarkia, Dagwin , Siba, Peter , Morita, Ayako , Umezaki, Masahiro , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 27, no. (2014), p. 54-58
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the viral and bacterial causes of acute watery diarrhoea in hospitalized children in Papua New Guinea. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on stool samples collected from 199 children (age > 5 years) admitted to the paediatric ward of Goroka General Hospital from August 2009 through November 2010. A large range of viral and bacterial enteric pathogens were targeted using real-time PCR/RT-PCR assays. Results: Young children were much more likely to be admitted with acute gastroenteritis, with 62.8% of patients aged >1 year and 88.4% aged >2 years. An enteric pathogen was detected in 69.8% (n= 138) of patients. The most commonly detected pathogens were Shigella spp (26.6%), rotavirus (25.6%), adenovirus types 40/41 (11.6%), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (11.1%), enteropathogenic E. coli (8.5%), norovirus G2 (6.0%), and Campylobacter spp (4.0%). Norovirus G1, sapovirus, and Salmonella spp were also detected, but below our statistical limit of detection. Vibrio cholerae and astrovirus were not detected in any patients. Mixed infections were detected in 22.1% of patients, with Shigella and rotavirus most commonly detected in co-infections with other pathogens. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that Shigella and rotavirus are the major pathogens associated with acute paediatric gastroenteritis in this setting. © 2014 The Authors.
- Morita, Ayako, Natsuhara, Kazumi, Tomitsuka, Eriko, Odani, Shingo, Baba, Jun, Tadokoro, Kiyoshi, Igai, Katsura, Greenhill, Andrew, Horwood, Paul, Soli, Kevin, Phuanukoonnon, Suparat, Siba, Peter, Umezaki, Masahiro
- Authors: Morita, Ayako , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Odani, Shingo , Baba, Jun , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Igai, Katsura , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul , Soli, Kevin , Phuanukoonnon, Suparat , Siba, Peter , Umezaki, Masahiro
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: American Journal of Human Biology Vol. 27, no. 3 (2015), p. 349-357
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: The aim of this article was to develop a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and evaluate its validity to estimate habitual protein intake, and investigate current dietary protein intakes of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Highlanders. Methods: A 32-item FFQ was developed and tested among 135 healthy male and female volunteers. The FFQ-estimated daily total and animal protein intakes were compared with biomarkers and 3-day Weighed Food Records (WFR) by correlation analyses, Bland-Altman plot analyses and joint classification analyses. Results: The FFQ-estimated total protein intake significantly correlated with urinary nitrogen in the first morning void after adjusting urinary creatinine concentration (r=0.28, P<0.01) and the FFQ-estimated animal protein intake significantly correlated with the hair δ15N (Spearman's r=0.34, P<0.001). The limits of agreement were ±2.39 Z-score residuals for total protein intake and ±2.19 Z-score for animal protein intake, and intra-individual differences increased as protein intake increased. The classification into the same and adjacent quartiles was 66.0% for total protein intake and 73.6% for animal protein intake. Median daily total and animal protein intake estimates from the FFQ and the 3-day WFR showed a good agreement with differences of 0.2 and 4.9 g, respectively. None of the studied communities in the PNG Highlands met the biologically required protein intake; although the community closer to an urban center showed higher protein intake than the more remote communities. Conclusions: The newly developed 32-item FFQ for PNG Highlanders is applicable for evaluation of protein intake at the individual level. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:349-357, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nitrogen fixation and nifH diversity in human gut microbiota
- Igai, Katsura, Itakura, Manabu, Nishijima, Suguru, Tsurumaru, Hirohito, Suda, Wataru, Tsutaya, Takumi, Tomitsuka, Eriko, Tadokoro, Kiyoshi, Baba, Jun, Odani, Shingo, Natsuhara, Kazumi, Morita, Ayako, Yoneda, Minoru, Greenhill, Andrew, Horwood, Paul, Inoue, Jun-ichi, Ohkuma, Moriya, Hongoh, Yuichi, Yamamoto, Taro, Siba, Peter, Hattori, Masahira, Minamisawa, Kiwamu, Umezaki, Masahiro
- Authors: Igai, Katsura , Itakura, Manabu , Nishijima, Suguru , Tsurumaru, Hirohito , Suda, Wataru , Tsutaya, Takumi , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Baba, Jun , Odani, Shingo , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Morita, Ayako , Yoneda, Minoru , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul , Inoue, Jun-ichi , Ohkuma, Moriya , Hongoh, Yuichi , Yamamoto, Taro , Siba, Peter , Hattori, Masahira , Minamisawa, Kiwamu , Umezaki, Masahiro
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Scientific Reports Vol. 6, no. (2016), p. 1-11
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: It has been hypothesized that nitrogen fixation occurs in the human gut. However, whether the gut microbiota truly has this potential remains unclear. We investigated the nitrogen-fixing activity and diversity of the nitrogenase reductase (NifH) genes in the faecal microbiota of humans, focusing on Papua New Guinean and Japanese individuals with low to high habitual nitrogen intake. A 15 N 2 incorporation assay showed significant enrichment of 15 N in all faecal samples, irrespective of the host nitrogen intake, which was also supported by an acetylene reduction assay. The fixed nitrogen corresponded to 0.01% of the standard nitrogen requirement for humans, although our data implied that the contribution in the gut in vivo might be higher than this value. The nifH genes recovered in cloning and metagenomic analyses were classified in two clusters: one comprising sequences almost identical to Klebsiella sequences and the other related to sequences of Clostridiales members. These results are consistent with an analysis of databases of faecal metagenomes from other human populations. Collectively, the human gut microbiota has a potential for nitrogen fixation, which may be attributable to Klebsiella and Clostridiales strains, although no evidence was found that the nitrogen-fixing activity substantially contributes to the host nitrogen balance. © The Author(s) 2016.
- Authors: Igai, Katsura , Itakura, Manabu , Nishijima, Suguru , Tsurumaru, Hirohito , Suda, Wataru , Tsutaya, Takumi , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Baba, Jun , Odani, Shingo , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Morita, Ayako , Yoneda, Minoru , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul , Inoue, Jun-ichi , Ohkuma, Moriya , Hongoh, Yuichi , Yamamoto, Taro , Siba, Peter , Hattori, Masahira , Minamisawa, Kiwamu , Umezaki, Masahiro
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Scientific Reports Vol. 6, no. (2016), p. 1-11
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: It has been hypothesized that nitrogen fixation occurs in the human gut. However, whether the gut microbiota truly has this potential remains unclear. We investigated the nitrogen-fixing activity and diversity of the nitrogenase reductase (NifH) genes in the faecal microbiota of humans, focusing on Papua New Guinean and Japanese individuals with low to high habitual nitrogen intake. A 15 N 2 incorporation assay showed significant enrichment of 15 N in all faecal samples, irrespective of the host nitrogen intake, which was also supported by an acetylene reduction assay. The fixed nitrogen corresponded to 0.01% of the standard nitrogen requirement for humans, although our data implied that the contribution in the gut in vivo might be higher than this value. The nifH genes recovered in cloning and metagenomic analyses were classified in two clusters: one comprising sequences almost identical to Klebsiella sequences and the other related to sequences of Clostridiales members. These results are consistent with an analysis of databases of faecal metagenomes from other human populations. Collectively, the human gut microbiota has a potential for nitrogen fixation, which may be attributable to Klebsiella and Clostridiales strains, although no evidence was found that the nitrogen-fixing activity substantially contributes to the host nitrogen balance. © The Author(s) 2016.
- Tomitsuka, Eriko, Igai, Katsura, Tadokoro, Kiyoshi, Morita, Ayako, Baba, Jun, Suda, Wataru, Greenhill, Andrew, Horwood, Paul, Soli, Kevin, Siba, Peter, Odani, Shingo, Natsuhara, Kazumi, Morita, Hidetoshi, Umezaki, Masahiro
- Authors: Tomitsuka, Eriko , Igai, Katsura , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Morita, Ayako , Baba, Jun , Suda, Wataru , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul , Soli, Kevin , Siba, Peter , Odani, Shingo , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Morita, Hidetoshi , Umezaki, Masahiro
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Metabolomics Vol. 13, no. 9 (2017), p.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Introduction: Adequate amount of proteins from foods are normally needed to maintain muscle mass of the human body. Although protein intakes of Papua New Guinea (PNG) highlanders are less than biologically adequate, protein deficiency related disorders have rarely been reported. It has been postulated that gut microbiota play a role in such low-protein-adaptation. Objective: To explore underlying biological mechanisms of low-protein adaptation among PNG highlanders by investigating metabolomic profiles of faecal water and urine. Methods: We performed metabolome analysis using faecal water extracted from faecal samples of PNG highlanders, PNG non-highlanders and Japanese subjects. We paid special attention to amino acids and other metabolites produced by gut microbiota, as well as to metabolites involved in nitrogen recycling in the human gut. Results: Our results indicated that amino acid levels were higher in faecal water from PNG highlanders than PNG non-highlanders, but amino acid levels did not differ between PNG highlanders and Japanese subjects. Among PNG highlander samples, amino acid levels tended to be higher in those who consumed less protein. Conclusion: We speculated that a greater proportion of urea was excreted to the intestine among the PNG highlanders than other groups, and that the urea was used for nitrogen salvage. Intestinal bacteria are essential for producing ammonia from urea and also for producing amino acids from ammonia, which is a key process in low-protein adaptation. Profiling the gut microbiota of PNG highlanders is an important avenue for further research into the mechanisms of low-protein adaptation.
Characterization of the gut microbiota of Papua New Guineans using reverse transcription quantitative PCR
- Greenhill, Andrew, Tsuji, Hirokazu, Ogata, Kiyohito, Natsuhara, Kazumi, Morita, Ayako, Soli, Kevin, Larkins, Jo-Ann, Tadokoro, Kiyoshi, Odani, Shingo, Baba, Jun, Naito, Yuichi, Tomitsuka, Eriko, Nomoto, Kriko, Siba, Peter, Horwood, Paul, Umezaki, Masahiro
- Authors: Greenhill, Andrew , Tsuji, Hirokazu , Ogata, Kiyohito , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Morita, Ayako , Soli, Kevin , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Odani, Shingo , Baba, Jun , Naito, Yuichi , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Nomoto, Kriko , Siba, Peter , Horwood, Paul , Umezaki, Masahiro
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PLoS ONE Vol. 10, no. 2 (2015), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: There has been considerable interest in composition of gut microbiota in recent years, leading to a better understanding of the role the gut microbiota plays in health and disease. Most studies have been limited in their geographical and socioeconomic diversity to high-income settings, and have been conducted using small sample sizes. To date, few analyses have been conducted in low-income settings, where a better understanding of the gut microbiome could lead to the greatest return in terms of health benefits. Here, we have used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting dominant and sub-dominant groups of microorganisms associated with human gut microbiome in 115 people living a subsistence lifestyle in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. Quantification of Clostridium coccoides group, C. leptum subgroup, C. perfringens, Bacteroides fragilis group, Bifidobacterium, Atopobium cluster, Prevotella, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Lactobacillus spp. was conducted. Principle coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed two dimensions with Prevotella, clostridia, Atopobium, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus grouping in one dimension, while B. fragilis, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus grouping in the second dimension. Highland people had higher numbers of most groups of bacteria detected, and this is likely a key factor for the differences revealed by PCoA between highland and lowland study participants. Age and sex were not major determinants in microbial population composition. The study demonstrates a gut microbial composition with some similarities to those observed in other low-income settings where traditional diets are consumed, which have previously been suggested to favor energy extraction from a carbohydrate rich diet. © 2015 PLOS ONE.
- Authors: Greenhill, Andrew , Tsuji, Hirokazu , Ogata, Kiyohito , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Morita, Ayako , Soli, Kevin , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Odani, Shingo , Baba, Jun , Naito, Yuichi , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Nomoto, Kriko , Siba, Peter , Horwood, Paul , Umezaki, Masahiro
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PLoS ONE Vol. 10, no. 2 (2015), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: There has been considerable interest in composition of gut microbiota in recent years, leading to a better understanding of the role the gut microbiota plays in health and disease. Most studies have been limited in their geographical and socioeconomic diversity to high-income settings, and have been conducted using small sample sizes. To date, few analyses have been conducted in low-income settings, where a better understanding of the gut microbiome could lead to the greatest return in terms of health benefits. Here, we have used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting dominant and sub-dominant groups of microorganisms associated with human gut microbiome in 115 people living a subsistence lifestyle in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. Quantification of Clostridium coccoides group, C. leptum subgroup, C. perfringens, Bacteroides fragilis group, Bifidobacterium, Atopobium cluster, Prevotella, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Lactobacillus spp. was conducted. Principle coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed two dimensions with Prevotella, clostridia, Atopobium, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus grouping in one dimension, while B. fragilis, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus grouping in the second dimension. Highland people had higher numbers of most groups of bacteria detected, and this is likely a key factor for the differences revealed by PCoA between highland and lowland study participants. Age and sex were not major determinants in microbial population composition. The study demonstrates a gut microbial composition with some similarities to those observed in other low-income settings where traditional diets are consumed, which have previously been suggested to favor energy extraction from a carbohydrate rich diet. © 2015 PLOS ONE.
A high burden of asymptomatic gastrointestinal infections in traditional communities in Papua New Guinea
- Horwood, Paul, Soli, Kevin, Maure, Tobias, Naito, Yuichi, Morita, Ayako, Natsuhara, Kazumi, Tadokoro, Kiyoshi, Baba, Jun, Odani, Shingo, Tomitsuka, Eriko, Igai, Katsura, Larkins, Jo-Ann, Siba, Peter, Pomat, William, McBryde, Emma, Umezaki, Masahiro, Greenhill, Andrew
- Authors: Horwood, Paul , Soli, Kevin , Maure, Tobias , Naito, Yuichi , Morita, Ayako , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Baba, Jun , Odani, Shingo , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Igai, Katsura , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Siba, Peter , Pomat, William , McBryde, Emma , Umezaki, Masahiro , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 97, no. 6 (2017), p. 1872-1875
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Stool samples were collected from 148 healthy adults living a traditional subsistence lifestyle in Papua New Guinea and screened for enteric pathogens using real-time RT-PCR/PCR assays. Enteric pathogens were detected in a high proportion (41%) of individuals. Clear differences were observed in the detection of pathogens between highland and lowland communities. In particular, there was a marked difference in detection rates of norovirus GII (20% and 0%, respectively) and Shigella sp. (15% and 0%, respectively). Analysis of the relationship between enteric pathogen carriage and microbial community composition of participants, using box plots to compare specific normal flora population numbers, did not suggest that gut microbial composition was directly associated with pathogen carriage. This study suggests that enteric pathogens are common in healthy individuals in Papua New Guinean highland communities, presumably acting as a reservoir of infection and thus contributing to a high burden of gastrointestinal illnesses.
- Authors: Horwood, Paul , Soli, Kevin , Maure, Tobias , Naito, Yuichi , Morita, Ayako , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Baba, Jun , Odani, Shingo , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Igai, Katsura , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Siba, Peter , Pomat, William , McBryde, Emma , Umezaki, Masahiro , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 97, no. 6 (2017), p. 1872-1875
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Stool samples were collected from 148 healthy adults living a traditional subsistence lifestyle in Papua New Guinea and screened for enteric pathogens using real-time RT-PCR/PCR assays. Enteric pathogens were detected in a high proportion (41%) of individuals. Clear differences were observed in the detection of pathogens between highland and lowland communities. In particular, there was a marked difference in detection rates of norovirus GII (20% and 0%, respectively) and Shigella sp. (15% and 0%, respectively). Analysis of the relationship between enteric pathogen carriage and microbial community composition of participants, using box plots to compare specific normal flora population numbers, did not suggest that gut microbial composition was directly associated with pathogen carriage. This study suggests that enteric pathogens are common in healthy individuals in Papua New Guinean highland communities, presumably acting as a reservoir of infection and thus contributing to a high burden of gastrointestinal illnesses.
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »