Serum anti-Helicobacter pylori IgA and IgG antibodies in asymptomatic children in Serbia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori and the distribution of anti-H.pylori IgA and IgG antibodies in asymptomatic children aged between 7 and 18 y. We studied the serum samples of 283 children using the commercial ELISA test for the detection of anti-H. pylori IgA and IgG antibodies. The overall prevalence of anti-H. pylori antibodies was 36.4%. The seroprevalence was 35%, 28.3%, 37.5%, and 42.2% for the ages of 7, 10, 14 and 18 y, respectively. Serum IgG antibodies alone were detected in 88.3%, IgA alone in 4.9%, and both IgA and IgG antibodies were detected in 6.8% of samples. The mean levels of IgG antibodies to H. pylori increased with age. We concluded that the prevalence of H. pylori antibodies in Serbian children was high (36.4%), ranging from 35% to 42.2%. The detection of IgG antibodies is useful for the determination of seroprevalence in asymptomatic children.

Where are we today with Helicobacter pylori infection among healthy children in Saudi Arabia?

“…The sero-prevalence of H. pylori among apparently healthy Saudi children (40%) demonstrated here, using both IGA and IgG serology tests, is intermediate compared with that in developed (<30%) and developing countries (>50%). [222324] Considering only the H. pylori IgG Abs testing, which was the only serology method used in the previous seroepidemiology studies in Saudi Arabia, the seroprevalence of H. pylori organism among apparently healthy Saudi children has dropped significantly from 40 - 50% in 1989 to 18.2% in the present study which is relatively a low rate compared with developing countries. [11] Another important and unique finding was the large percentage of H. pylori infected apparently healthy Saudi children (54% of the total 1413 cases) who have shown isolated IgA-immune response against H. pylori organism as compared to 0–7% in different ethnicities.…”

“…Also, several studies using H. pylori serology test demonstrated sensitivities over 90% when compared to culture or histopathology-based studies. [21222326] These features made H. pylori serology test the most suited method for population-based H. pylori mass screening studies among healthy individuals, like our study. In a systematic review of the pediatric literature on population-based studies of the prevalence of H. pylori infection conducted during the period 2011–2016, the prevalence estimates from direct H. pylori detection studies and seroprevalence estimates in asymptomatic individuals did not differ significantly (30%–44% for direct detection versus 27%–38% for seroprevalence).…”

“…[11] Another important and unique finding was the large percentage of H. pylori infected apparently healthy Saudi children (54% of the total 1413 cases) who have shown isolated IgA-immune response against H. pylori organism as compared to 0–7% in different ethnicities. [2225262728]…”

“…Very few studies evaluated host immunological responses of IgA type against H. pylori . Data from these studies suggest that host immunological responses to H. pylori may vary in different populations; IgA- H. pylori Abs were usually detected in combination with elevated IgG antibodies in approximately two-thirds of infected subjects; however, isolated IgA response to H. pylori (negative IgG Abs) was detected in 2% of the population in Finland,[28]4.9% of the population in Serbia,[22] and 7% of the population in the United States,[26] but not detected in Burkina Faso and Sweden. [2527] The finding of high proportion of isolated anti- H. pylori IgA Abs production in response to H. pylori infection (≈55% of all H. pylori positive cases) is an interesting and unique finding in the Saudi Arabian population; the mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain to be studied.…”

Expression of tryptophan hydroxylase in gastric mucosa in symptomatic and asymptomatic Helicobacter pylori infection

“…In the majority of cases (about 80%) it is asymptomatic, but discrepancies in the assessment result from the differences in the diagnostic procedures. In population studies, serological methods and determination of the level of IgA/IgG [1–4] or IgM antibodies are used most commonly [5], whereas monoclonal stool antigen tests and PCR methods are applied less frequently [6–8]. However, the urea breath test – 13 C-UBT – has been recognized to be sufficiently accurate and simple to use in screening of patients [9–11].…”