PCR identification of Helicobacter pylori DNA in faeces from patients with gastroduodenal pathology

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may represent a sensitive method for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) detection in faeces, even if different chemicals, such as polysaccharides, can give false negative results by inhibiting the amplification reaction. Our aim was to investigate by PCR the prevalence of Hp in the faeces of patients infected with this bacterium, removing the faecal PCR inhibitors by an appropriate filtration step. DNA was extracted from faeces of 61 patients undergoing endoscopy and subsequently amplified. FOR products were separated and identified by electrophoresis. PCR assay detected Hp DNA in 44 of 46 (95.6%) patients who resulted in being histologically positive. No Hp DNA was found in Hp-negative patients. These findings may suggest a faecal-oral route of Hp transmission, even if Hp DNA may be also due to DNA from non-viable, or viable but non-infectious, cells present in faeces.