Prevalence of<i>Helicobacter pylori vacA</i>Genotypes and<i>cagA</i>Gene in Dental Plaque of Asymptomatic Mexican Children

Abstract

The variability in <i>Helicobacter pylori vacA</i> and <i>cagA</i> genes has been related to the progression of the gastrointestinal disease; also the presence of <i>H. pylori</i> in the oral cavity has been associated with periodontal disease in adults, but, in children without dyspeptic symptoms, little is known about this. We evaluated the prevalence of <i>H. pylori</i> and the presence of <i>vacA</i>/<i>cagA</i> genotypes in the oral cavity of Mexican children without dyspeptic symptoms. The gingival status was measured, and dental plaque samples (<i>n</i> = 100) were taken. 38% of children were positive for <i>H. pylori</i> 16S rRNA gene by qPCR. A significant association between <i>H. pylori</i> oral infection and gingival status was observed (<i>P</i> < 0.001). In 34.6% (9/26) of mild gingivitis cases, <i>s1m2</i> genotype was found, while <i>s1m1</i> was typed in 50% (3/6) of moderate gingivitis. The <i>cagA</i> prevalence among <i>H. pylori</i>-positive children was 80.8% (21/26), 83.3% (5/6), and 16.7% (1/6) of cases of mild gingivitis, moderate gingivitis, and nongingivitis, respectively (<i>P</i> < 0.001). The <i>s1m1/cagA</i>+ combinational genotype was the most detected in children with gingivitis. Our results suggest that the prevalence of <i>H. pylori</i> and detection of <i>vacA/cagA</i> genotypes-associated gastrointestinal disease in the oral cavity could be related to the progression of gingivitis in asymptomatic children.