Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Polish shepherds and their families.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori infection might, in some instances, be considered as zoonosis.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the H. pylori prevalence in Polish shepherds and in their families as compared to controls. Patients and methods. A total of 42 shepherds from Polish Tatra Mountains with regular contact with sheep, 28 members of their families with incidental contacts and 61 age- and gender-matched farmer controls without such contacts were involved in this study. H. pylori status was determined by 13C-urea breath test. Serology was used to measure anti-H. pylori and anti-CagA IgG. Plasma gastrin, interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were also determined.


RESULTS
The H. pylori prevalence reached 97.6% in shepherds, 86% in their family members, but significantly less, 65.1%, in controls without contact with sheep. Anti-H. pylori IgG, anti-CagA in contact groups were significantly higher than in controls. Also, plasma gastrin, interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha had significantly higher values as compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Shepherds showed almost 100% H. pylori prevalence and higher incidence of CagA seropositivity, plasma gastrin and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Considering 100% positive 13C-urea breath test in sheep, it may be reasonable to suggest that H. pylori infection in shepherds and their family members originates from sheep and H. pylori infection might, therefore, be considered as zoonosis.
Papiez
D
D
Department of Clinical Physiology, Jagiellonian College of Medicine, 16 Grzegorzecka St., 31-531 Krakow, Poland.
Konturek
P C
PC
Bielanski
W
W
Plonka
M
M
Dobrzanska
M
M
Kaminska
A
A
Szczyrk
U
U
Bochenek
A
A
Wierzchos
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000097:blood; D001944:Breath Tests; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005755:Gastrins; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori