الفهرس 
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders are common and clinically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders manifested in the first 3 years of life by dysfunction in social interaction, language, and communication. Gastrointestinal problems are commonly reported in children with autism and may correlate with autism severity. A recent study reported that a specific bacteria was frequently found in individuals with autism that was not found in controls. The bacteria was identified as the Sutterella species.
The aim of the present study was to detect the association between Sutterella species in stool of Egyptian children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Thirty children diagnosed with ASDs according to DMS-V criteria were included in the present study. A cross matching control group of 30 non-autistic children was also included. from these cases stool specimens were taken for detection of Sutterella by the Conventional PCR using primers that amplify a 260-bp region spanning the variable regions from V6 to V8 of the 16S rRNA gene.
The ASD patients were, 23 males and 7 females with a ratio 3.3:1, their age range 2.5-8 years and mean age 4.4 ± 1.5. GI disturbances have been apparent in all our patients, in the form of either diarrhea, constipation, or alternating bowel movements. By using CARS for the assessment of the severity of autism, 50% of ASD patients were mild while the other 50% were moderate. There is no significant difference between male and female patients as regards the severity of autism.
By PCR Sutterella DNA has been detected in 80% of ASD cases, and 36.7% of control cases. Culturing of the stool samples in our study revealed Sutterella in only one ASD case that was also positive by PCR assay. For the control cases, Sutterella was not isolated from any case.
These results indicate Sutterella species may have a role in ASD severity and gastrointestinal problems.