Helicobacter pylori cagA, vacA and iceA genotypes in western Indian population of Maharashtra with varied gastroduodenal diseases.

Scarce reports relying on rapid urease test, serology and histopathology are currently known for H. pylori from Western India, Maharashtra. We investigated H. pylori genotypes at molecular level in gastro-duodenal disease population during the years 2002-2005. H. pylori presence was scored by polymerase chain reaction in the infected biopsies (n = 95) in various gastric diseases. H. pylori specific 16S rDNA gene amplification based preliminary identification coupled with protein coding gene amplification scores were assessed for the incidence. H. pylori 16S rDNA and 7 housekeeping genes were detected in all biopsies, whereas 71.18% and 28% found to be cagA positive and negative respectively. The vacA toxigenic alleles (vacA s1) and middle region subunit vac m1a were found in 54%, and 59% patients. However, the iceA1 was present in 40.06%; the iceA2 was less i.e. in 13.5% patients. The most common allelic combinations in different age groups irrespective of disease types were 13-30, 31-45, 46-60 and 61-73 were cagA-vac m1a-vacA s1-iceA1. In our analysis, PCR was found to be 100% accurate in detecting H. pylori in gastric biopsies. Among West Indian population H. pylori was found to be present, irrespective of any correlation with the genotype and gender of patients with the clinical outcome. However, the genotype incidences were related to age of the patients, wherein the age group ranging from 46 to 60 years was found be susceptible for H. pylori infection.