SUGGESTION AGAINST AN ORAL-ORAL ROUTE OF TRANSMISSION FOR HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION - A SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY IN A RURAL AREA

In this study the seroepidemiology of H. pylori and Epstein-Barr virus was compared in the same setting. A sample of 705 subjects completed a structured questionnaire. A serum sample was drawn from each subject and assayed for H. pylori IgG. Antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus were determined in a subgroup of 466 subjects. Cross-tabulation of data sho wed that 274 (58.8%) subjects were seropositive and 20 (4.3%) were ser onegative for both infections, 17 (3.6%) were seropositive for H. pylo ri, and 155 (33.3%) were seropositive for Epstein-Barr virus (odds rat io = 2.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.008-4.3). Nevertheless, the agre ement between H. pylori and Epstein-Barr virus seropositivity was no b etter than chance (kappa = 0.067) and the age-related seroprevalence c urve of Epstein-Barr virus was similar in PI. pylori seropositive and seronegative subjects. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analy sis did not show any risk factor shared by both infections. The findin gs of this study do not support the hypothesis that H. pylori and Epst ein-Barr virus share a common mode of transmission. It can be speculat ed that the oral cavity may not be an important reservoir for H, pylor i.