J Vet Sci.  2006 Sep;7(3):225-228. 10.4142/jvs.2006.7.3.225.

Absence of vertical transmission of Helicobacter pylori in an experimental murine model

• Lee JU
• Jung K
• Kim O

• KMID: 1089905
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2006.7.3.225

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is acquired mainly in early childhood but the precise transmission routes are unclear. This study examined the maternal H. pylori infection status in order to determine the potential of perinatal transmission. These issues were investigated using an experimental murine model, the Mongolian gerbil, which has been reported to be the most suitable laboratory animal model for studying H. pylori. Pregnant Mongolian gerbils, infected experimentally with H. pylori, were divided into two groups. The stomachs of the mother and litters were isolated and assessed for the transmission of H. pylori at the prenatal period (2 weeks after pregnancy) and at the parturition day. The bacterial culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid urease test were used to examine the presence of the transmitted H. pylori. There was no H. pylori observed in any of the fetuses during pregnancy and in the litters at parturition. This suggests that vertical infection during the prenatal period or delivery procedure is unlikely to be route of mother-tochild transmission of a H. pylori infection.

Keyword

Helicobacter pylori; murine model; transmission; vertical infection

MeSH Terms

Animals
Animals, Newborn
Disease Models, Animal
*Disease Transmission, Vertical
Female
Gerbillinae
Helicobacter Infections/microbiology/*transmission
Helicobacter pylori/*growth&development
Male
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/*microbiology
Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
Stomach Diseases/*microbiology

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Amplification of Helicobacter DNAs. None of the fetuses showed any evidence of H. pylori transmission at 2weeks after pregnancy. M, 100 bp DNA ladder; P, positive control; N, negative control; Mo: mother, F: fetuses.

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