Helicobacter pylori
is the most common gastric bacteria of human beings. Animal-borne helicobacter
have been associated with gastritis, ulceration, and gastric mucosa-associated
lymphoid-tissue lymphoma in people. We attempted to identify the species of
Helicobacter
spp. that infect human beings in north Paraná, Brazil. Samples of gastric mucosa from 38 dyspeptic patients were analyzed
by optic microscopy on silver stained slides, polimerase chain reaction (PCR),
and enzymatic cleavage. Genus and species-specific primers to
H. pylori
,
H. heilmannii
,
H. felis
, and consensual primers to
H. bizzozeronii
or
H. salomonis
were used. The PCR products were submitted to enzymatic cleavage by VspI (
Helicobacter
spp. product) and HinfI (species products) enzymes. Thirty-two out of 38 patients
evaluated had 3.2 to 5
µm long bacteria that resembled
H. pylori
in Warthin-Starry stained slides and were positive to the genus
Helicobacter
by PCR. In 30 of these patients the bacteria were identified as
H. pylori
. Two samples positive by silver stain were negative to all species tested
by PCR. None of the 38 samples was positive to animal-origin helicobacter species.
These results show that PCR and enzymatic restriction are practical methods
to identify the species of helicobacters present in gastric mucosa of human
beings. People in north Paraná appear to be infected mostly with
H. pylori
.
