Genotyping and antibiotic resistance properties of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from human and animal gastric biopsies

Purpose: The present study was done to assess the prevalence rate, antibiotic resistance pattern and genotyping status of the Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from human and animal gastric biopsy samples.

Patients and methods: A total of 1,150 gastric biopsy samples were randomly collected from humans (children and adults) and animals (cows, sheep and goats). All samples were subjected to culture, urease test and histopathologic examination. H. pylori isolates were also confirmed using the 16S rRNA gene PCR-amplification. Antibiotic resistance pattern was assessed by the disk diffusion method. Distribution of different genotypes was studied by PCR.

Results: The prevalence of H. pylori in gastric biopsy samples which were studied using urease test, culture and histological examination were 57.04%, 55.40% and 60.80%, respectively. Samples that were collected from adult humans (78%) and sheep (70%) had the highest prevalence of H. pylori strains, while those of goats (0.6%) and cows (4%) had the lowest. Findings of the culture method were confirmed using PCR-based amplification of 16S rRNA. Distribution of H. pylori among the gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis gastric cancer and chronic cancer samples were 10.40%, 15.70%, 96.50%, 0.60% and 3.14%, respectively. H. pylori strains harbored the highest prevalence of resistance against ampicillin (74.4%), clarithromycin (63.4%), trimethoprim (61.5%) and metronidazole (61.5%). The most commonly detected genotypes among the H. pylori strains isolated from different types of biopsy samples were cagA (84.79%), vacA m2 (55.95%), vacA s1a (49.84%), cagE (48.58%), iceA1 (47.02%) and iceA2 (47.02%).

Conclusion: High prevalence of antibiotic resistance and virulent genotypes indicates an important public health issue. Similarities in antibiotic resistance and genotyping pattern of H. pylori strains isolated from humans and animals may show their similar routes of infection.