Abstract
Background: Helicohacter pylori is rod shaped Gram negative bacteria, and involved in different gastric complications, such as antral gastritis, gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. H. pylori have affected about half of the population around the world. Non invasive detection of H. pylori is the last technique for infection control. This study was aimed to detect H. pylori from saliva and gastric biopsies samples using molecular approach. Methods: Human saliva (n=150) and stomach biopsies (n=150) of the same patients having GI disturbance were collected, processed for culture and biochemical identification, PCR and species specific 16srRNA genes sequencing. Results: Phenotypically, H.pylori was observed in 20.6% (n=62) samples which includes detection rate of 16% (n=24) in saliva and 25.3% (n=38) in biopsies samples. The phenotypically positive H.pylori (n=62) samples were processed for PCR assay. The molecular detection rate of H.pylori was 58.3% (n=14) in saliva while 63.1% (n=24) in gastric biopsies. A nonsignificant difference (p=0.7040298) was observed in the PCR detection rate of H. pylori in saliva and biopsies samples. Selected H. pylori isolates from saliva were further confirmed on species specific 16s rRNA gene sequencing. Conclusion: The present study detected IL pylori is the saliva of GI disturbed patients. Findings of the study will be helpful to use saliva as diagnostic sample for IL pylori detection in high disease burden area like Pakistan.