16S Analysis of Children in Cryptosporidium Burden Cohort

The protozoan parasites in the Cryptosporidium genus cause both acute diarrheal disease and subclinical (ie, nondiarrheal) disease. It was unclear if the microbiota can influence the manifestation of diarrhea during a Cryptosporidium infection in a population where the disease is endemic. We found that microbiome composition broadly, and specifically low Megasphaera abundance, was associated with diarrheal symptoms prior to and at the time of Cryptosporidium detection. This observation suggests that the gut microenvironment may play a role in determining the severity of a Cryptosporidium infection.