Abstract:
Background: Helicobacter pylori(H. Pylori) is one of the most common pathogens
affecting human kind, infecting more than 50% of the world's population. Invasive and
non- invasive methods have been used to diagnose H. pylori infection. The polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) has been broadly and successfully used to detect Helicobacter
pylori virulence genes in gastric biopsies and stool specimen due to its high sensitivity
and specificity. Genotyping using H. pylori genes, the cytotoxin associated gene A
(cagA) and voculating cytotoxin gene A (vacA), offers one of the best options.
Objective: To determine if genotyping of H. pylori cytotoxin associated gene A
(cagA) and voculating cytotoxin gene A (vacA) virulence genes in infected patients
as well as healthy individuals can be done from stool specimen.
Study selection: A Pubmed/Medline search was carried out using specific key words
to retrieve all publications on genotyping of H. pylori cagA and vacA from stool
specimen between year 2003 to 2012.
Data synthesis:Ten different studies from different locations fulfilled the selection
criteria and were included in the study.
Results:This review summarises different protocol used to successfully detect
H.pylori virulence genes cytotoxin associated gene A (cagA) and voculating
cytotoxin gene A (vacA) from faecal specimen by PCR from asymptomatic healthy
individuals and infected people with Helicobacter pylori infection.
Conclusion: this review highlights the use of stool specimen as an alternative test for
genotyping of H. pylori cagA and vacA virulence genes as it is non-invasive an easy
to collect.
