Dysgonomonas spp. in gastrointestinal pathology

Dysgonomonas spp. is a microorganism that is occasionally isolated in patients with gastroenteritis, although its clinical relevance remains uncertain. It has also been reported in association with other underlying conditions, especially in immunocompromised individuals. However, the exact role of Dysgonomonas spp. requires further investigation. Our objective was to link the pathogenesis of Dysgonomonas spp. with the clinical context in pediatric patients, evaluating its significance in gastroenteritis and related diseases. This was a retrospective and descriptive prevalence study involving the isolation of Dysgonomonas spp. from the fecal samples of pediatric patients presenting with digestive symptoms (from September 2019 to December 2023). The strains were isolated on a selective medium for Campylobacter spp., identified using the MALDI-TOF method, and their antibiotic sensitivity was assessed. Cases in which other gastrointestinal pathogens were isolated alongside Dysgonomonas spp. were excluded. Fifty cases of patients with Dysgonomonas spp. infection were analyzed, of which 45 (41 D. capnocitophagoides; four D. gadei) met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 77.8% were isolated episodes of gastroenteritis, whereas 22.2% were cases of persistent gastroenteritis (PG). Eighty percent (80%) of the cases occurred in the context of associated pathologies. All strains were sensitive to clindamycin and co-trimoxazole. In cases of alteration of the intestinal microbiota, usually related to specific underlying pathologies and other concomitant factors, Dysgonomonas spp. may act as an opportunistic pathogen.