Characteristics of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from Mauritanian patients.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) is responsible for various diseases including cancer It co‐evolved with humans, and human migrations shaped the expansion and the diversity of strains around the world. The risk of developing a disease depends on virulence factors, mainly the cytotoxin‐associated gene A protein (CagA). The aim of this study was to determine the cagA status in H pylori strains from Mauritanian patients and to search for a relationship with endoscopic and histologic findings. Material and methods: H pylori was searched in gastric biopsies taken during endoscopy in patients with gastro‐duodenal symptoms. RT‐PCR was used for the diagnosis and resistance to clarithromycin. The cagA status was determined with PCR and the EPIYA‐cagA polymorphism with sequencing. Results: At all, 76/78 (97.4%) biopsies were positive. The rate of clarithromycin resistance was 4/76 (5.26%) due to the A2143G mutation, with a mixed population in 2 cases. The cagA gene was present in 23/76 (30.26%) biopsies, and the EPIYA motif was ABC in 21 (91.3%). High bacterial load and inflammation were significantly associated with cagA‐positive status (P <.01). Phylogenetic analysis of the glmM and hspA genes highlighted a mixture of African and European genes in strains of H pylori isolated from patients of Moor origin. Conclusion: We report a high prevalence of H pylori infection in Mauritanian patients, a low rate of clarithromycin resistance (5.26%) and high bacterial load and inflammation associated with cagA‐positive status. The phylogenetic analysis highlights the mix of different populations leading to the Moor ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]