Helicobacter pylori genotypes identified in gastric biopsy specimens from Jordanian patients.
BACKGROUND
The genetic diversity of Helicobacter pylori can be analyzed at two different levels: the genomic variation between strains originating from different individuals, and the variation in bacterial populations within an individual host. We reported for the first time the H. pylori genotypes in Jordanian patients with gastrointestinal diseases.


METHODS
Upper endoscopy was performed on 250 patients with symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases. Multiple gastric biopsy specimens were taken from the antrum. All the biopsies were tested by PCR for the H. pylori virulence genes vacA, cagA, and iceA, and 151 were tested by histology.


RESULTS
The biopsies positive for H. pylori by PCR were 110/250 (44%), and by histology 117/151 (77.5%), and these results were highly associated (P < 0.02). Analyses of virulence genes revealed that iceA2 (73.6%) was the predominant genotype, the vacAs2 allele was more frequently identified than the vacAs1 allele, while the cagA genotype was low (26.4%). The presence of certain genotypes might be associated with each other, but the presence of certain genotypes was not significantly associated with the age, or gender of the patient.


CONCLUSIONS
The results illustrate the geographic nature of the genetic diversity of H. pylori, as the identified genotypes are similar to those reported in neighboring countries. This study provides a baseline data of H. pylori genotypes identified in gastric biopsy specimens from Jordan, serving as a powerful epidemiological tool for prospective investigations to better understand the genetic diversity of this pathogen.
Nimri
Laila F
LF
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, Jordan. nimri@just.edu.jo
Matalka
Ismail
I
Bani Hani
Kamal
K
Ibrahim
Marwa
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori; D037521:Virulence Factors; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori; C063113:ice nucleation protein