title: Detection of Helicobacter pylori in Various Types of Vegetables and Salads.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a possibility for the presence of Helicobacter pylori in vegetables due to their close contact with polluted water, soil and feces.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to detect the presence of H. pylori in vegetables and salads in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 460 vegetable and salad samples were collected and transferred immediately to the laboratory. All samples were cultured and tested for the presence of H. pylori using the Polymerase Chain Reaction technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that 44 of 460 samples (9.56%) were positive for H. pylori using the culture method. The Polymerase Chain Reaction technique showed that 50 of 460 samples (10.86%) were positive for H. pylori. Un-washed leek, traditional salad, un-washed basil and un-washed lettuce were the most commonly contaminated samples. The presence of the bacteria in various vegetables was statistically significant (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vegetables are a new source of H. pylori and accurate washing of vegetables improves such contaminations.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atapoor
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers and Elites Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Safarpoor Dehkordi
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rahimi
keywords: Culture; Helicobacter pylori; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Vegetables