PCR IDENTIFICATION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI DNA IN FECES FROM PATIENTS WITH GASTRODUODENAL PATHOLOGY

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may represent a sensitive method for H elicobacter pylori (Hp) detection in faeces, even if different chemica ls, such as polysaccharides, can give false negative results by inhibi ting the amplification reaction. Our aim was to investigate by PCR the prevalence of Hp in the faeces of patients infected with this bacteri um, removing the faecal PCR inhibitors by an appropriate filtration st ep. DNA was extracted from faeces of 61 patients undergoing endoscopy and subsequently amplified. PCR products were separated and identified by electrophoresis. PCR assay detected Hp DNA in 44 of 46 (95.6%) pat ients who resulted in being histologically positive. No Hp DNA was fou nd in Hp-negative patients. These findings may suggest a faecal-oral r oute of Hp transmission, even if Hp DNA may be also due to DNA from no n-viable, or viable but non-infectious, cells present in faeces.