Quantification of Intestinal Lactobacillus Species in Children with Functional Constipation by Quantitative Real-Time PCR

Abstract

Background

Functional constipation is a common and annoying gastrointestinal disorder among children worldwide in which the intestinal microbiota composition plays a fundamental role. This study aimed to compare the quantity of main intestinal Lactobacillus species in constipated children and healthy controls.

Materials and Methods

Fecal samples were collected from 40 children fulfilling Rome IV criteria for functional constipation and 40 healthy volunteers. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method with species-specific primers was used to investigate seven main Lactobacillus species in fecal samples.

Results

Lactobacillus strains of the patient group were different from the healthy controls, main differences being noticeable decrease in the population quantity of Lactobacillus reuteri (mean 10^2.61 CFU/gram feces) and lower abundance of Lactobacillus fermentum (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

Lactobacillus species might be quantitatively altered in childhood functional constipation. Our findings on the different species of Lactobacillus population showed significantly decreased quantity in the patient group compared with the healthy subjects.

Keywords:

• constipation
• Lactobacillus
• microbiota
• quantitative real-time PCR

Abbreviations

MRS, Man Rogosa Sharp; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR); qPCR, QuantitativeReal-Time polymerase chain reaction.

Acknowledgments

We thank the laboratory and nursing personnel of children ward in teaching hospitals in Ahvaz, who assisted to collect the clinical specimens. This study was a part of PhD thesis of Nabi Jomehzadeh, which was approved in Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by a grant (CMRC9709) from Research Affairs, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.