Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is a microaerophilic spiral-shaped Gram-negative bacterium that infects approximately 50% of the world’s population, particularly in developing countries. Infections early in childhood are postulated to induce a low-grade chronic inflammatory condition. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori virulence genotypes ureA, vacA, cagA and babA2 among asymptomatic Egyptian infants and to define the possible infection associated risk factors. Non invasive test using polymerase chain reaction on stool samples was used for detection of these genes. Prevalence of H. pylori among those infants was 88.9%. Prevalence of ureA, vacA, cagA and babA2 was 86.9, 98.8, 71.4 and 67.8%, respectively. Risk factors significantly associated with infection included bed sharing, premastication of food and nursery attendance (P<0.005). The prevalence of H. pylori infection among Egyptian infants is very high with high prevalence of virulence genotypes, so follow up of these infants and repetition of this study on a wider scale is recommended.

Key words: Helicobacter pylori, virulence, Egypt, infants.