Differential gut microbiome in spondyloarthritis patients associated to Blastocystis colonization

Fecal matter samples from SpA-patients (n=36) and healthy individuals (n=13) (all adults) were subjected to direct, concentrated, and Kato-Katz stool tests. Simultaneously, DNA extraction was carried out for diagnosis by PCR for Blastocystis, Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium, and for analysis of the bacterial microbiome by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 region). To establish whether there are differences in the intestinal microbiome of individuals diagnosed with SpA (Patients-SpA) colonized and not colonized with Blastocystis.