Emmanuel Amewu

Sghana

The association between submicroscopic Plasmodium infections and gut microbiota among children in Ahanta West, Ghana

Emmanuel K. A. Amewu1, Rosemond Enam Mawuenyega2, Bismark Koduah2, Alexander Kwarteng2,3, Amma A. Larbi2

1. Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
2. Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
3. Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Background

Background: Asymptomatic and submicroscopic Plasmodium infections pose challenges to malaria control due to their silent contribution to transmission. The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized for its role in modulating host susceptibility to infectious diseases, yet its relationship with malaria remains under-explored in endemic populations. This study aimed to investigate the role of gut microbiota in asymptomatic Plasmodium infections among school-aged children in Ahanta West, Ghana.

Methods

Methods: A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted to screen school-aged children for Plasmodium infections and stool samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene V4 sequencing. Plasmodium infection status and species were determined using malaria microscopy, Rapid Diagnostic Tests, and Realtime-PCR. Alpha and beta diversity metrics, differential abundance analysis, and redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to explore the association between asymptomatic Plasmodium infection and gut microbiota.

Results

Results: There were 113 participants with an average age of 12.12.3 years and with disproportionately more females, 70 (61.9%). The prevalence of submicroscopic Plasmodium infection was 53.1% with Plasmodium malariae significantly associated (p < 0.001). Alpha and beta diversity metrics did not show significant differences within and between both infection and Plasmodium spp. groups, respectively. However, there was generally reduced abundance in the infection groups compared to the uninfected. Plasmodium spp. causing infection was identified to significantly influence gut microbiota (p = 0.024) in the RDA. Differential abundance analysis showed enrichment of pro-inflammatory gut bacteria such as Treponema spp. and Rikenellaceae and depleted beneficial and anti-inflammatory gut bacteria such as Coprococcus eutactus and Rhodospirillales. Conclusions Conclusion: This study shows evidence of subtle gut microbiota dysbiosis in asymptomatic Plasmodium infection with potential core microbial enrichment. This suggests the role of gut microbiota in susceptibility to Plasmodium infection and the potential for microbiota mediated strategies in malaria control.