Helicobacter pylori detection in gastric biopsies, saliva and dental plaque of Brazilian dyspeptic patients.
Helicobacter pylori is an important human pathogen that causes chronic gastritis and is associated with the development of peptic ulcer disease and gastric malignancies. The oral cavity has been implicated as a potential H. pylori reservoir and may therefore be involved in the reinfection of the stomach, which can sometimes occur following treatment of an H. pylori infection. The objectives of this paper were (i) to determine the presence of H. pylori in the oral cavity and (ii) to examine the relationship between oral H. pylori and subsequent gastritis. Gastric biopsies, saliva samples and dental plaques were obtained from 78 dyspeptic adults. DNA was extracted and evaluated for the presence of H. pylori using polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting methods. Persons with gastritis were frequently positive for H. pylori in their stomachs (p < 0.0001) and there was a statistically significant correlation between the presence of H. pylori in gastric biopsies and the oral cavity (p < 0.0001). Our results suggest a relationship between gastric infection and the presence of this bacterium in the oral cavity. Despite this, H. pylori were present in the oral cavity with variable distribution between saliva and dental plaques, suggesting the existence of a reservoir for the species and a potential association with gastric reinfection.
Universidade do Sagrado Coração, Bauru, SP, Brasil.
Lucas Trevizani
LT
Rasmussen
Roger William de
RW
Labio
Luciano Lobo
LL
Gatti
Luiz Carlos da
LC
Silva
Valdeir Fagundes de
VF
Queiroz
Marília de Arruda Cardoso
Mde A
Smith
Spencer Luiz Marques
SL
Payão
D001706:Biopsy; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial