Detection of enterohepatic and gastric helicobacter species in fecal specimens of children with Crohn's disease.
BACKGROUND
Although there is compelling evidence to support the role of bacteria in Crohn's disease (CD), there is currently no solid evidence to support the role of any one specific bacterial causative agent. Recent studies have suggested that members of the Helicobacteraceae may play a role in the development of CD. The aim of this study was to further investigate the presence of members of the Helicobacteraceae in children with and without CD.


METHODS
Fecal specimens from 29 children with CD, 11 healthy, normal controls, and 26 symptomatic controls with non-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathology were obtained for DNA extraction and subjected to Helicobacteraceae-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All PCR-positive samples were sequenced. The association between the presence of members of the Helicobacteraceae and each study group was statistically analysed using the Fisher's exact test.


RESULTS
Based on Helicobacteraceae-specific PCR analysis, 59% (17 of 29) of the children with CD were positive, which was significantly higher than that in asymptomatic healthy children [9% (1 of 11); p = .01] and that in symptomatic children with non-IBD pathology [0% (0/26); p < .0001]. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of positive samples revealed the presence of both enterohepatic Helicobacter species and Helicobacter pylori in fecal specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, enterohepatic and gastric Helicobacter species have been identified in fecal specimens from children diagnosed with CD using PCR. Our data suggest that Helicobacter species may have a pathogenic role in the development of CD in a considerable proportion of children.
Man
Si Ming
SM
School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Zhang
Li
L
Day
Andrew S
AS
Leach
Steven
S
Mitchell
Hazel
H
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S