Presence of high numbers of transcriptionally active Helicobacter pylori in vomitus from Bangladeshi patients suffering from acute gastroenteritis.

• BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most prevalent human bacterial pathogens; however, its transmission pathways remain unknown. New infections of H. pylori during outbreaks of gastroenteritis have been suggested previously, and to explore this transmission route further H. pylori was quantified in vomitus and diarrheal stool of patients suffering from acute gastroenteritis in Dhaka, Bangladesh. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vomitus and stool samples from 28 patients seeking care at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research hospital were analyzed for presence of H. pylori and other pathogens using quantitative culturing, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and H. pylori stool antigen test. Bacterial gene expression was analyzed using reverse transcriptase real-time PCR. RESULTS: The results of real-time PCR show that 23 (88%) of the 26 vomitus samples and 17 (74%) of the 23 stool samples were H. pylori positive, while stool antigen test show that 14 (67%) of the 21 stool samples were H. pylori positive. H. pylori could not be isolated by culture. Analysis using quantitative culture and real-time PCR to detect Vibrio cholerae showed strong correlation between these methods, and validating real-time PCR. Analysis of H. pylori virulence gene transcription in vomitus, diarrheal stool, antral and duodenal biopsy specimens, and in vitro cultures showed that cagA, flaA, and ureA were highly transcribed in vomitus, biopsy specimens, and cultures, whereas hpaA and vacA were expressed at lower levels. No H. pylori gene expression was detected in diarrheal stool. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that high numbers of transcriptionally active H. pylori are shed in vomitus, which indicates that new infections may be disseminated through vomiting.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Mikrobiologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Microbiology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Acute Disease

epidemiology

Adolescent

Adult

Aged

Antigens

Bacterial

genetics

Bacterial Proteins

genetics

Bangladesh

epidemiology

Child

Feces

microbiology

Female

Gastroenteritis

epidemiology

microbiology

Helicobacter Infections

epidemiology

microbiology

Helicobacter pylori

genetics

isolation & purification

Humans

Hydro-Lyases

genetics

Male

Middle Aged

Oxidoreductases

genetics

Vomiting

epidemiology

microbiology

Young Adult

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)