Helicobacter pylori causes probably the most widespread infection among the
world population (>50%). This infection evolves towards diseases like chronic
gastritis but it is difficult to apply prevention schemes because the routes of
transmission are yet unclear. The epidemiological studies done so far point to the
existence of two routes: person to person; and, through contaminated water. This
second route considers H. pylori as a waterborne pathogen.
The molecular detection techniques such as PCR are providing the technical tools
to study these microorganisms in the aquatic environment. The objective of this work
was to study the possibility of using a seminested PCR to know the incidence of H.
pylori in sewage water of the Northeast of Spain.
A PCR method designed to detect Helicobacter pylori from gastric biopsies
(Clayton et al., 1992) was adapted to water samples. Amplification conditions were
modified, and a second DNA amplification was added. This optimized method was
applied to detect H. pylori from sewage.
A total of 12 sewage samples were analyzed from which 7 were positive. It shows
that Helicobacter pylori is present in this type of polluted water. These findings
support the view that the Helicobacter pylori is present in polluted water and, therefore,
these pathogens have to be monitored from water in order to avoid its spreading.
Includes 8 references, tables, figure.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 160 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 7 |
| Published : | 09/22/2002 |
