A quantitative and relative increase in intestinal bacteroides in allergic infants in rural Japan.
Recent studies have suggested that intestinal microbiota play a substantial role in the development of allergic diseases during infancy. We analyzed fecal microbiota in 18 Japanese infants with or without allergy at 6 months and 2 years of age using a cell culture technique. Allergy determination was based on doctor-diagnosed allergic diseases and skin prick tests. There were no differences between 9 allergic and 9 non-allergic infants at 6 months of age in the frequencies or counts of 13 genera and yeast-like organisms. Bifidobacterium was dominant in all infants irrespective of allergy status. At 2 years of age, 8 infants were non-allergic and 10 infants were allergic. Allergic infants at 2 years of age had higher counts of Bacteroides and higher ratios of Bacteroides to Bifidobacterium than non-allergic infants. Despite the small population size used in this study, the results support a significant role of Bacteroides in the pathogenesis of allergy during infancy.
Suzuki
Shuichi
S
Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. seeyou@msj.biglobe.ne.jp
Shimojo
Naoki
N
Tajiri
Yoshito
Y
Kumemura
Megumi
M
Kohno
Yoichi
Y
D000367:Age Factors; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D000939:Epitopes; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests
D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E