AN OVERVIEW ON INTESTINAL PARASITES AND GUT MICROBIOME: A BIDIRECTIONAL RELATIONSHIP

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, and Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Egypt

Abstract

The human body hosts a vast and diverse ecosystem known as the microbiota, inclusive of
bacteria, viruses, archaea, and parasites. The majority of gut microbiota resides in the colon,
with Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes representing the predominant phyla. Disruption of gut microbiota
(dysbiosis) is associated with various intestinal and systemic diseases. Development
of intestinal parasitic infections may alter bacterial composition, immune responses, and homeostatic
relationships within the gut ecosystem. Protozoa, like Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba
histolytica, and Blastocystis cause interactions with resident bacteria, impacting the
microbiota's composition and diversity. Toxoplasma gondii influences gut microbiota leading
to changes in bacterial load, diversity and translocation. Owing to their immunomodulatory
effects, helminths as Trichuriasis exhibit potential control of autoimmune diseases. The relationship
between the gut microbiome and intestinal parasites is intricate and dynamic. The
microbiome can influence parasitic infections, affecting immune responses and disease outcomes.

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