title: Clostridium difficile, atopy and wheeze during the first year of life.
abstract: Differences have been suggested to occur in the composition of intestinal microflora from allergic and non-allergic children. In this study we used a semi-quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of Clostridium difficile-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) (CDIgG). CDIgG was excellent in differentiating between adults with or without Cl. difficile colitis (absorbance levels, positive vs. negative controls: geometric mean (GM) 0.301, 95% CI: 0.289-0.314 vs. GM 0.167, 95% CI: 0.155-0.181; mean difference 1.8-fold, 95% CI: 1.65-1.95; p < 0.0001). We used this technique to investigate whether there are any differences between atopic wheezy infants and non-atopic non-wheezy controls. In a prospective cohort study (n = 390) 10 patients were identified at 1 year of age (atopic, history of recurrent wheeze) and matched (gender, month of birth, exposure to Der p 1, Fel d 1 and Can f 1) with a control group of infants (non-atopic, no history of wheeze). The patients had significantly higher Cl. difficile-specific IgG absorbance levels (GM 0.298, 95% CI: 0.249-0.358) compared with controls (GM 0.235, 95% CI: 0.201-0.274; mean difference 1.27-fold, 95% CI: 1.07-1.50; p = 0.01). These results suggest that there may be differences in the composition of intestinal microflora between allergic and non-allergic infants at 1 year of age, with allergic children having higher Cl. difficile IgG antibody levels.
authors.affiliation: North-west Lung Center, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woodcock
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.forename: Frazer I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Smillie
authors.forename: Clare S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Burnie
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Custovic
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G