title: Seroprevalence of anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-cytotoxin-associated gene A antibodies among healthy individuals in center of Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Helicobacter pylori infection occurs worldwide, but the prevalence of this infection varies greatly among different countries and population groups. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) antibodies in asymptomatic healthy population in the center of Iran and to investigate the relation with different parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally, 525 individuals aged 17-60 years were enrolled in study. The serum samples of participants were tested for anti-H. pylori IgG and anti-CagA IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent method (ELISA). ABO blood grouping was also done by hemagglutination test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG was 74.2% and their rates increased with age. The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG was higher in males (74.6%) than in females (71.6%). There was statistically inverse association between H. pylori infection and education level (P=0.04) and marital status (P=0.000). The most prevalent blood group was type AB with positive Rh-phenotype (82.4%). In H. pylori infected individuals the seroprevalence of anti-CagA antibody was 46.9%. The seroprevalence of anti-CagA IgG was in males 48.6% and in females 31.6%. There was no statistically significant association between anti-CagA IgG positivity and age, occupation, socioeconomic status, ABO blood groups and Rh status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed that H. pylori infection was common in the asymptomatic individuals. Almost half of the infected individuals acquire CagA-positive strains of H. pylori. Moreover, it seems that males are more susceptible to infection with CagA-positive strains compared to females.
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research & Education in Transfusion Medicine, Saveh Regional Blood Transfusion Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afsharipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran.
authors.forename: Razieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nazari
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Douraghi
keywords: Cytotoxin-assosiated gene A; ELISA; Helicobacter pylori; Iran; Seroprevalence