Quantitative Stool Culture of Candida in Egyptian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abd El Halim, Rania M.; Amer, Malaka Z.; Salem, Ghada Elsayed; Abdelhamid, Dalia Hosni; El Hossiny, Reham M.

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2023.283668

Quantitative Stool Culture of Candida in Egyptian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejhm.2023.283668

Abstract

Background: A group of neurodevelopmental diseases known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication as well as limited or repetitive activities.
Objective: To estimate the quantity of Candida in stool of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients compared to normal children and to find the association between Candida colony count and severity of ASD.
Patients and Methods: The study involved 40 children with autism and 40 typically developing children who were recruited from the pediatrics and adolescent psychiatric clinic at the pediatric hospitals of Ain Shams University. The research included participants who ranged in age from 3 to 14 years, (mean age of 6.30±2.40 years). Stool sample was collected from each patient in a sterile container, cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and colony count was determined.Identification of isolated Candida species was done using chromogenic media.
Results: The study revealed statistically significant difference in Candida isolation rate among patient and control group with p-value (p=0.006). Candida species were isolated from 23 patients (57.5%) and from 10 children in control group (25%), but there was statistical insignificant difference in Candida colony count between severe autistic group compared to mild to moderate autistic group. There were 14 patients (60.9%) with C. Albicans; 2 patients (8.7%) C. Glabrata; 6 patients (26.1%) C. Krusei and one patient (4.3%) C. Utilis.
Conclusion: Children with ASD had increased rates of intestinal Candida species colonization, which may be a symptom of a condition associated to immune system abnormalities that may contribute to the etiology of ASD. In ASD, C. albicans was the most common isolate.

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