Helicobacter pylori strains from a Nigerian cohort show divergent antibiotic resistance rates and a uniform pathogenicity profile

PLoS One. 2017 May 2;12(5):e0176454. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176454. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori is a factor preventing its successful eradication. Particularly in developing countries, resistance against commonly used antibiotics is widespread. Here, we present an epidemiological study from Nigeria with 111 isolates. We analyzed the associated disease outcome, and performed a detailed characterization of these isolated strains with respect to their antibiotic susceptibility and their virulence characteristics. Furthermore, statistical analysis was performed on microbiological data as well as patient information and the results of the gastroenterological examination. We found that the variability concerning the production of virulence factors between strains was minimal, with 96.4% of isolates being CagA-positive and 92.8% producing detectable VacA levels. In addition, high frequency of bacterial resistance was observed for metronidazole (99.1%), followed by amoxicillin (33.3%), clarithromycin (14.4%) and tetracycline (4.5%). In conclusion, this study indicated that the infection rate of H. pylori infection within the cohort in the present study was surprisingly low (36.6%). Furthermore, an average gastric pathology was observed by histological grading and bacterial isolates showed a uniform pathogenicity profile while indicating divergent antibiotic resistance rates.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics
  • Female
  • Helicobacter Infections / drug therapy
  • Helicobacter Infections / epidemiology
  • Helicobacter Infections / microbiology
  • Helicobacter pylori / drug effects*
  • Helicobacter pylori / genetics
  • Helicobacter pylori / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Nigeria / epidemiology
  • Phylogeny
  • Urease / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori
  • Urease

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft HA 2697/12-1, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft HA 2697/18-1, Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung.