Natural maternal transmission of H. pylori in Mongolian gerbils.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate maternal H. pylori infection status to determine the potential of maternal transmission.


METHODS
In the present study, we examined these issues in an experimental murine model, which is a Mongolian gerbil model that has been reported as an optimal laboratory animal model to study H. pylori. Pregnant Mongolian gerbils, infected experimentally with H. pylori, were divided into as four groups. Following the experimental design, the stomachs of the mother and litters were isolated and assessed for transmission of H. pylori at the prenatal period, parturition day, 1-wk old and 3-wk old respectively. Bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to examine the presence of transmitted H. pylori.


RESULTS
All litters showed no transmission of H. pylori during pregnancy and at parturition day. However, they revealed 33.3% and 69.6% at 1-wk and 3-wk of age respectively by PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested that vertical infection during the prenatal period or delivery procedure is unlikely as a route of mother-to-child H pylori infection. It may be that H. pylori is acquired through breast-feeding, contaminated saliva and fecal-oral transmission during co-habitation.
Lee
Jin-Uk
JU
Animal Disease Research Unit, College of Life Science and Natural Resources, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
Kim
Okjin
O
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000635:transmission*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000503:physiopathology; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology