Resumen

FERNANDEZ-DELGADO, Milagro et al. Evidences of aquatic transmission of Helicobacter Pylori. INCI [online]. 2008, vol.33, n.6, pp.412-417. ISSN 0378-1844.

Helicobacter pylori is a causing agent of gastritis and duodenal ulcer, and plays an important role in the etiology of stomach cancer. This organism infects over one half of the world population and it is currently considered as one of the most important human pathogens. In view of the existing uncertainty about its transmission from the environment and the difficulty of detecting it in non-human sources, a review is made in the present paper about the presence of H. pylori in different water sources and its survival strategies in aquatic environments. Epidemiological studies have established that, mainly in developing countries, water contaminated with feces is a source of infection. Different methods for detection in water have been evaluated. Techniques have been developed based on culture in selective media, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization by fluorescence and PCR. Despite the success obtained with some of these methods, to date no standard procedure exists for the detection of this microorganism in water. Bio-film formation and the persistence in a viable non-cultivable (VNC) state in water have been proposed as survival strategies of H. pylori in the environment. Future work should focus on optimizing the detection of H. pylori in environmental samples so as to clarify the transmission path associated with the aquatic medium.

Palabras clave : Biopelículas ; Estado VNC ; Helicobacter pylori ; Técnicas de Detección ; Transmisión Acuática .