Determination of risk factors and transmission pathways of Helicobacter pylori in asymptomatic subjects in Western India using polymerase chain reaction

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the salivary samples\udof asymptomatic subjects, the possible route of transmission and role of hygeine in dissemination\udof H. pylori using polymerase chain reaction. Methods: Salivary samples of 1 500 asymptomatic\udsubjects were involved to determine the prevalence of H. pylori. DNA was extracted from the\udsamples using phenol chloroform, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide method and the DNA\udtemplate was used to amplify H. pylori specific genes, 16s rRNA and HSP 60 using H. pylori\udspecific primers. Clean water index (CWI), crowding index and information regarding hygeine\udwere recorded using suitable questionnaires in local language. Results: The prevalence of\udinfection in male and female subjects was found to be equal to 75.96% and 88.10% respectively.\udThe prevalence in age groups of (20-29), (30-39), (40-49), (50-59) and (60-69) was found to be\udequal to 80.76%, 81.47%, 74.50%, 86.58 and 80.95% respectively. The prevalence of infection in the\udsubjects using processed and unprocessed water for drinking was found to be equal to 30% and\ud89.5% respectively. The prevalence of infection in the subjects who belong to low, medium or\udhigh CWI status was found to be equal to 26.20%, 65.62% and 86.13% respectively.The prevalence\udof infection in the subjects who belong to high, medium and low crowding index status was found\udto be equal to 88.83%, 82.48% and 69.63 % respectively. The prevalence of H. pylori was significant\udin the subjects using unprocessed water, having outdoor sanitation practices, belonging to low\udCWI and high crowding index (P < 0.0 001). Conclusions: H. pylori transmission is associated\udwith consumption of unprocessed water, low CWI, outdoor sanitation practices and high crowding\udindex