title: Association between Helicobacter pylori and intestinal parasites in an Añu indigenous community of Venezuela.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and enteroparasite infections are highly prevalent in populations with poor living conditions, like the Amerindian communities. Identifying associations between both types of infectious agents could help to detect shared risk factors or transmission routes in these minority ethnic groups. Therefore, the prevalence and association between Hp and enteroparasites were investigated in an indigenous community whose living conditions favor such infectious diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seropositivity (anti-Hp-specific IgG) and active infection (stool antigen test), intestinal parasitosis (direct and concentrated coproparasitological test, methylene blue, and Kinyoun stains), and risk factors for fecal-oral transmission were determined in 167 children and 151 adults of the Añu indigenous community living at the Sinamaica Lagoon, in Venezuela.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high rate of Hp infection (seropositivity and active infection) and enteroparasitosis was evidenced, as expected. Some significant associations were detected: direct associations between Hp and polyparasitic infection, helminths, and protozoan (particularly in children); inverse association between Hp and Giardia lamblia. No shared epidemiological factors were identified for Hp and the detected intestinal parasites, probably due to overlapping factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct associations detected support the participation of the fecal-oral route in the transmission of the involved infectious agents. Inverse relationship (Hp) and G. lamblia may suggest the existence of antagonistic interactions between them. Further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these associations.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología. Escuela de Bioanálisis, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela. alisbethdfb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alisbeth D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Fuenmayor-Boscán
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Ileana M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología. Escuela de Bioanálisis, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Kutchynskaya J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología. Escuela de Bioanálisis, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
authors.forename: América M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Paz
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología. Escuela de Bioanálisis, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Lisette B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Sandrea
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología. Escuela de Bioanálisis, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Zulbey
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rivero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000635:transmission; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Añu; Helicobacter pylori; Indigenous community; Intestinal parasites; Transmission