title: Detection rate of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen in newborn infants and small children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of H. pylori antigen in the stools of Norwegian neonates and small children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 249 children aged 0 days-3 years were tested for the presence of H. pylori antigen in feces using the HpSA immunoassay. For verification purposes, a selection of samples were analyzed with PCR targeting the 16 S rDNA Helicobacter gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  H. pylori antigen in stool was detected in 52% (36/69) of the neonates, in 15% (7/46) of infants aged 7 days-1 month, and in 5% (7/134) of children aged 1 month-3 years. In neonates, H. pylori antigen detection was significantly associated with mode of delivery: 59% (30/51) with uncomplicated vaginal births were HpSA positive compared to only 10% (1/10) of infants delivered by cesarean section (P=0.02). Positive PCR results were found in 35% (9/26) of HpSA positive samples. Sequencing of PCR products revealed 97-100% homology with gene sequences from both H. pylori and other Helicobacter species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low H. pylori antigen detection rate in children >1 month of age is in accordance with previous prevalence studies from Western countries. The unexpected finding of a high H. pylori antigen detection rate in neonates suggests that transient colonization may occur in the neonatal period.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. arne.stray-pedersen@labmed.uio.no
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stray-Pedersen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaustad
authors.forename: Babill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stray-Pedersen
authors.forename: Torleiv O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Rognum
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial