Incidence of Helicobacter pylori in Tripoli's Drinkable Water by PCR. Correlation with Its Prevalence in Patients.

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori colonize 50% of human population. It is considered as a potential carcinogen since afflicted patients can develop ulcer, gastritis, and gastric cancer or MALT lymphoma. H. pylori routes of transmission remain unclear. Many studies revealed that drinkable water could be the most probable way of transmission. However, no similar studies were carried out in our country. The main objective of this study is to screen the incidence of H. pylori in Tripolis drinkable water using PCR. The ultimate aim is to establish a correlation between its incidence in water and its prevalence in patients, and to estimate if the drinkable water represents a major route of transmission of this organism. Water samples are collected from different check points in Tripoli, filtered, and the DNA harvested is used for the amplification of the UreA gene by PCR in order to detect 135 bp bands by gel electrophoresis. Results showed that all untreated water samples were negative for H. pylori but positive for fecal coliforms. Treated water samples were negative for both H. pylori and fecal coliforms. Tripolis drinkable water may not be the route of transmission of H. pylori in the region and the organism incidence was found to be not correlated with fecal contamination.