Isolation and Characterization of Aerobic Gut Microbiome of Psoriatic Arthritic and Psoriasis Patients

Background & Objectives: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and Psoriasis (Ps) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting mainly the skin and synovial membrane. While the etiology remains underexplored, multiple factors seem to play a role in pathogenesis.  Reports show that the gut microbiome contributes to arthritis and related inflammation of the joints. Methods This study was initiated to understand the variation in the microbiome in PsA patients visiting the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute(MGMCRI) hospital, Puducherry. Fecal samples were collected from 15clinically and diagnostically confirmed as PsA and Ps patients.  They were subjected to standard microbiological analysis. Results: Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococci constituted 30% of the isolates. Remaining 70% included Gram negative bacteria with a predominant presence of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Proteus. Conclusion: A total of 30 aerobic bacterial isolates were identified from the fecal samples of PsA and Ps Patients visiting MGMCRI hospital. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first South Indian study characterizing the fecal microbial compositions in PsA patients