The authors studied the prevalence of atrophic gastritis, H.pylori strains carrying the CagA gene, seeding and apoptosis indices of gastric mucosa in indigenous and newcomer residents of Evenkia. A total of 136 Evenks and 159 newcomers were examined using fibrogastroscopy and biopsy of antral gastric mucosa. Morphological study included light microscopy of hematoxylin and eosin-stained biopsies and their analysis using a visual-analog scale to reveal signs of inflammation, apoptosis, intestinal metaplasia and the degree of insemination by P. pylori. Urease and morphological tests were used to identify H. pylori and the TUNEL technique (Mebstain Apoptosis kit direct, France) to determine apoptosis index; serum anti-Helicobacter and CagA antibodies were detected by an immunoenzyme assay in 22 Evenks and 24 newcomers with chronic H. pylori-associated gastritis. The prevalence of atrophic gastritis in these groups was estimated at 13.2 and 23.9% respectively, seeding density 45.37 +/- 2.01 and 214 +/- 8.75 (p < 0.001). H. pylori strains carrying the CagA gene were identified in 59.6 and 43.6% of the newcomers and Evenks (p = 0.01), total apoptosis index in greater curvature mucosa was 4.99 +/- 0.23 and 3.19 +/- 0.28 (p < 0.01) respectively. These ethnic difference in the prevalence of atrophic gastritis appear to be attributable to different intensity of apoptosis in greater curvature mucosa.