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. 2022 Jan 29;12(2):181.
doi: 10.3390/jpm12020181.

Presence of Helicobacter Species in Gastric Mucosa of Human Patients and Outcome of Helicobacter Eradication Treatment

Rita Matos  1   2   3 , Emily Taillieu  4 , Sofie De Bruyckere  4 , Chloë De Witte  4 , Alexandra Rêma  3 , Hugo Santos-Sousa  1   5   6 , Jorge Nogueiro  5   6 , Celso A Reis  1   2   3   6 , Fátima Carneiro  1   6   7 , Freddy Haesebrouck  4 , Irina Amorim  1   2   3 , Fátima Gärtner  1   2
Affiliations

Presence of Helicobacter Species in Gastric Mucosa of Human Patients and Outcome of Helicobacter Eradication Treatment

Rita Matos et al. J Pers Med. .

Abstract

The genus Helicobacter is composed of bacteria that colonize both the human and animal gastrointestinal tract. Helicobacter pylori infects half of the world's population, causing various disorders, such as gastritis, duodenitis and gastric cancer. Additionally, non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacter species (NHPH) are commonly found in the stomach of pigs, dogs and cats. Most of these species have zoonotic potential and prevalence rates of 0.2-6.0%, and have been described in human patients suffering from gastric disorders undergoing a gastric biopsy. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of Helicobacter spp. in the stomach of patients with gastric cancer (n = 17) and obese (n = 63) patients. Furthermore, the outcome of the Helicobacter eradication treatment and the current infection status was evaluated. Overall, based on the genus-specific PCR followed by sequencing, DNA from Helicobacter spp. was detected in 46.3% of the patients, including single infections with H. pylori in 43.8% of the patients and mixed infections with H. pylori and canine- or feline-associated H. felis in 2.5%. About 32.5% of the patients had been subjected to previous Helicobacter eradication therapy and the triple standard therapy was the most frequent scheme (42.3%). In 48.0% of the patients who received eradication treatment, bacteria were still detected, including one mixed infection. In 23.1% of the patients who reported that a subsequent test had been performed to confirm the elimination of the bacteria, Helicobacter were still detected. In conclusion, although in a smaller percentage, NHPH may also be present in the human stomach. Thus, specific NHPH screening should be included in the diagnostic routine. The continued presence of H. pylori in the stomach of patients recently subjected to eradication schemes raises questions about the efficacy of the current Helicobacter treatments.

Keywords: Helicobacter; NHPH; eradication treatment; gastric disease; human stomach.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Detection of Helicobacter species in human gastric mucosa sections. H&E stain of gastric sections from obese (OB) patients (A) and gastric cancer (GC) patients (D), 200× and 400× (inset). Modified-Giemsa stain, highlighting bacteria at the epithelium surface and gastric crypts (black arrows), in obese patients (B) and GC patients (E), magnification 600×. (C,F) Helicobacter spp. immunopositivity within the superficial mucus, in the lumen of gastric deep glands, 400×, and inside parietal cells, 600×, (*) in obese patients (C) and GC patients (F).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overall results of the animal contact based on the patients’ surveys.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Helicobacter eradication treatment. (A) Detailed information about the therapeutical schemes used. (B) Confirmatory test performed to evaluate the presence of Helicobacter organisms after eradication treatment. UDE: upper digestive endoscopy; UBT: urea breath test.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Information about the Helicobacter eradication treatment and the current infectious status.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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