Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2011; 17(36): 4104-4108
Published online Sep 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i36.4104
Helicobacter species and gut bacterial DNA in Meckel’s diverticulum and the appendix
Peren H Karagin, Unne Stenram, Torkel Wadström, Åsa Ljungh
Peren H Karagin, Torkel Wadström, Åsa Ljungh, Department of Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 23, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden
Unne Stenram, Department of Pathology, Lund University, SE-22185 Lund, Sweden
Author contributions: Karagin PH did the all molecular analyses and wrote most of the manuscript; Stenram U did the pathological analyses and wrote part of the manuscript; Stenram U, Ljungh Å, and Wadström T designed the project and helped in writing the manuscript.
Supported by A grant from the University Hospital of Lund (ALF) to Torkel Wadström and a grant from the John Forssman’s foundation, the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund to Peren Karagin
Correspondence to: Peren H Karagin, PhD, Department of Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 23, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden. perenbaglan@yahoo.com
Telephone: +46-46-173298 Fax: +46-46-189117
Received: February 1, 2011
Revised: March 4, 2011
Accepted: March 11, 2011
Published online: September 28, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To analyse the possible association of various Helicobacter species and certain common gut bacteria in patients with Meckel’s diverticulum and appendicitis.

METHODS: A nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), specific to 16S rRNA of the Helicobacter genus, was performed on paraffin embedded samples, 50 with acute appendicitis, 50 normal appendixes, and 33 Meckel’s diverticulum with gastric heterotopia and/or ulcer. Helicobacter genus positive samples were sequenced for species identification. All samples were also analysed for certain gut bacteria by PCR.

RESULTS: Helicobacter pullorum DNA was found in one out of 33 cases and Enterobacteria in two cases of Meckel’s diverticulum. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was found in three, Enterobacter in 18, and Bacteroides in 19 out of 100 appendix samples by PCR. Enterococcus was not found in any MD or appendix samples. All H. pylori positive cases were from normal appendixes.

CONCLUSION: Helicobacter is not an etiological agent in the pathogenesis of symptomatic Meckel’s diverticulum or in acute appendicitis.

Keywords: Meckel’s diverticulum, Helicobacter, Appendix, Polymerase chain reaction