Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Sri Lanka as Determined by PCR
Abstract
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Sri Lanka as Determined by PCR N. Fernando 1 , J. Holton 1 , * , D. Vaira 2 , M. DeSilva 3 and D. Fernando 3 1 Department of Bacteriology, Royal Free & University College London Medical School, London, United Kingdom 2 First Medical Clinic, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy 3 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardena, Colombo, Sri Lanka ABSTRACT Fifty-seven Sinhalese patients were investigated for the presence of Helicobacter pylori by PCR. A prevalence of 70.1%, with 47.5% positive for cagA , was demonstrated. The most common vacA allele was s1am1. There was no significant association between either the s1 allele or the cagA allele and severe gastroduodenal disease. There was an association between the s1 allele and the cagA locus.