Helicobacter pylori : Is it Transmitted Through Faecal-oral or Oral-oral Route?

The association of Helicobacter pylori with gastroduodenal diseases is well established. The mode of transmission of the organism is still unclear, although the faecal-oral route has been proposed. H. pylori has been detected in gastric antrum, dental plaques, faeces and water. In the light of these studies we attempted to detect H. pylori in antral biopsies, dental plaques, and stool specimens of patients who were suffering from upper GI complaints. These patients resided in Mumbai city, India. Clinical specimens from different sources were subjected to RUT, Culture, Histopathology and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found H. pylori in antral biopsies and faeces by culture and PCR but absent in dental plaques. Therefore, faecal-oral is the possible route of transmission of this bacterium. Dental plaque may not be a permanent reservoir of this bacterium because this organism needs strict microaerophilic conditions to survive

Presence of Helicobacter pylori in Mumbai Water

Helicobacter pylon is found commonly in the gut of the human beings and animals. This bacterium is found usually when patients suffer from upper GI infections. H. pylon has been found in the patients in antral biopsies in Mumbai, India. We have found H. pylon in antral biopsies and faeces in another Study we have done. The mode of transmission of H. pylon is yet not confirmed although two routes are proposed : faecal-oral and oral-oral. Many studies have found that H. pylon survives in water in viable or viable but non-culturable forms. We found H. pylon in Mumbai water samples collected from different places by culture and PCR. Thus, we propose water as the possible vehicle of transmission of H. pylon infection