Presence of Helicobacter pylori and H. suis DNA in Free-Range Wild Boars

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects half of the human population worldwide, causing gastric disorders, such as chronic gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcers, and gastric malignancies. Helicobacter suis (H. suis) is mainly associated with pigs, but can also colonize the stomach of humans, resulting in gastric pathologies. In pigs, H. suis can induce gastritis and seems to play a role in gastric ulcer disease, seriously affecting animal production and welfare. Since close interactions between domestic animals, wildlife, and humans can increase bacterial transmission risk between species, samples of gastric tissue of 14 free range wild boars (Sus scrofa) were evaluated for the presence of H. pylori and H. suis using PCR. Samples from the antral gastric mucosa from two animals were PCR-positive for H. pylori and another one for H. suis. These findings indicate that these microorganisms were able to colonize the stomach of wild boars and raise awareness for their putative intervention in Helicobacter spp. transmission cycle.

A role for altered phagosome maturation in the long-term persistence ofHelicobacter pyloriinfection

The vigorous host immune response that is mounted against Helicobacter pylori is unable to eliminate this pathogenic bacterium from its niche in the human gastric mucosa. This results in chronic inflammation, which can develop into gastric or duodenal ulcers in 10% of infected individuals and gastric cancer in 1% of infections. The determinants for these more severe pathologies include host (e.g., high IL-1β expression polymorphisms), bacterial [e.g., cytotoxicity-associated gene ( cag) pathogenicity island], and environmental (e.g., dietary nitrites) factors. However, it is the failure of host immune effector cells to eliminate H. pylori that underlies its persistence and the subsequent H. pylori-associated disease. Here we discuss the mechanisms used by H. pylori to survive the host immune response and, in particular, the role played by altered phagosome maturation.

ESOPHAGEAL VARICES:

. Objectives To document the frequency of esophageal varices and their importance in a tertiary care hospital of SouthernPunjab. Design: Observational. Setting: Endoscopy unit of Sheikh Zayed Medical College/Hospital. Period: From Nov 2005 to May 2007.Materials & Methods The data of 500 patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy was analyzed. Demographic features, reasons for referraland endoscopic diagnoses were noted. Results: Among 500 patients, 57% were referred due to upper GI bleeding, 9% due to dysphagia, 8%due to persistent vomiting and 7% due to dyspeptic symptoms. Common endoscopic diagnoses were esophageal varices (44%). Conclusion:Major Endoscopic finding in our study was esophageal varices. Gastric or duodenal ulcers, congestive gastropathy, obstructive lesions ofesophagus and stomach were the next most common observations.