Prevalence of CagA and VacA genotype of Helicobacter pylori in Thai children.
Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in children is variable according to geographical location and family sanitation. A previous study in Bangkok showed an incidence of 25.5% in 1998. The higher incidence in the urban and rural area is predicted in lower economic classes and poor sanitation.


OBJECTIVE
To study the occurance of CagA and VacA genotype in Thai children using the Western blot technique.


METHODS
Sera of 159 Thai native children aged 0-15 year without associated abdominal pain from different provinces in 4 parts of the Kingdom of Thailand were tested with the rapid screening test for H. pylori. The positive specimen was further tested with the Western blot technique for determination of Urea A (p37), CagA (p116) and VacA (p89).


RESULTS
Fiftyfive andfifty two (34.6%) were tested positive by the rapid test while 32.7% were positivefor the band of current infection marker (CIM). The 28 selected positive sera with complete history of housing and water supply were analysed. Thai children living in urban areas have a higher prevalence and the CagA+, VacA+ are found in 96.43% of infected patients. The transmission may be through the water supply.


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was found in childhood period in urban areas and may be associated with the local water supply.
Vivatvakin
Boosba
B
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Theamboonlers
Apiradee
A
Semakachorn
Nipat
N
Wongsawadi
Lamduan
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori