Alterations in the Fecal Microbiota Composition in Pediatric Acute Diarrhea: A Cross-Sectional and Comparative Study of Viral and Bacterial Enteritis

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between the fecal microbiota of acute diarrhea in children and provide gut microbiota information related the acute diarrhea with rotavirus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children with acute diarrhea aged 3–60 months were selected for the study. Routine stool examination was performed, and stool samples were collected and stored at −80 °C until further analysis. Fecal microbial DNA was extracted, and DNA concentration and quality were detected. PCR amplification and 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing analysis using the Illumina MiSeq platform were performed, and intestinal flora was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Children with acute diarrhea exhibited gut microbial dysbiosis. Lower microbial diversity and richness were observed in the viral enteritis and bacterial enteritis groups than in the control group. Composition of the microbiota in acute diarrhea differed from that in the control group. The Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes dramatically decreased in the viral enteritis and bacterial enteritis groups. However, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria increased, especially in the bacterial enteritis group. In addition, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria had dramatically increased in the viral enteritis group. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes map analysis, the membrane transport dysfunction was caused by rotavirus infection, while the membrane transport dysfunction was more evident in bacterial infection. CONCLUSION: Acute diarrhea infections cause fecal microbiota dysbiosis in children. Changes in fecal microflora in children suggest that the regulation of intestinal flora in children with acute diarrhea should be strengthened.