Prevalence of Helicobacter and Acanthamoeba in natural environment.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether the presence of Helicobacter is related to that of Acanthamoeba in river and soil environments.


RESULTS
The samples (river n = 51, soil n = 75) were collected in Sapporo City, Japan. PCR with primers for Helicobacter genus-specific and standard culture techniques were used to detect helicobacter. Prevalence of acanthamoeba was also evaluated by genus-specific PCR. The prevalence of Helicobacter genus-specific DNA in river water samples and in soil samples was 88% and 0%, respectively. No successful culture of helicobacter was achieved. The prevalence of Acanthamoeba genus-specific DNA in river samples and in soil samples was 61% and 96%, respectively. No statistical correlation between the prevalence of helicobacter and either that of acanthamoeba or water quality parameters (pH, turbidity and coliform group) except for temperature was found.


CONCLUSIONS
We revealed the presence of helicobacter in river water and non-existence of helicobacter in soil. However, the distribution of helicobacter did not overlap with that of acanthamoeba in rivers. SIGNIFICANCE FOR IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The role of acanthamoeba on the survival of helicobacter might be limited as the both are coincidentally present in the environment.
Kawaguchi
K
K
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Matsuo
J
J
Osaki
T
T
Kamiya
S
S
Yamaguchi
H
H
D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012987:Soil