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Helicobacter pylori in bottled mineral water: genotyping and antimicrobial resistance properties
Reza Ranjbar1, Faham Khamesipour2, Nematollah Jonaidi-Jafari3
1Molecular Biology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Background:
Up to now, fecal-oral and oral-oral are the most commonly known routes for transmission of H. pylori, therefore, contaminated water can play an important role in transmission of H. pylori to humans. Genotyping using virulence markers of H. pylori is one of the best approaches to study the correlations between H. pylori isolates from different samples. The present research was carried out to study the vacA, cagA, cagE, oipA, iceA and babA2 genotyping and antimicrobial resistance properties of H. pylori isolated from the bottled mineral water samples of Iran.
Results:
Of 450 samples studied, 8 samples (1.77%) were contaminated with H. pylori. Brand C of bottled mineral water had the highest prevalence of H. pylori (3.63%). The bottled mineral water samples of July month had the highest levels of H. pylori-contamination (50%). H. pylori strains had the highest levels of resistance against metronidazole (62.5%), erythromycin (62.5%), clarithromycin (62.5%), amoxicillin (62.5%) and trimethoprim (62.5%). Totally, 12.5% of strains were resistant to more than 6 antibiotics. VvacAs1a (100%), vacAm1a (87.5%), cagA (62.5%), iceA1 (62.5%), oipA (25%), babA2 (25%) and cagE (37.5%) were the most commonly detected genotypes. M1as1a (62.5%), m1as2 (37.5%), m2s2 (37.5%) and S1a/cagA+/IceA2/oipA-/babA2-/cagE- (50%) were the most commonly detected combined genotypes.
Conclusions:
Contaminated bottled mineral water maybe the sources of virulent and resistant strains H. pylori. Careful monitoring of bottled mineral water production may reduce the risk of H. pylori transmission into the human population.
Insights
Contaminated bottled mineral water can harbor virulent Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains, showing high resistance to common antibiotics. Monitoring bottled water production is crucial to prevent H. pylori transmission.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Public Health
- Food Safety
Background:
- Fecal-oral and oral-oral routes are primary transmission pathways for H. pylori.
- Contaminated water is a potential vehicle for H. pylori transmission to humans.
- Genotyping virulence markers aids in understanding H. pylori isolate correlations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of H. pylori in bottled mineral water in Iran.
- To genotype H. pylori strains using virulence markers (vacA, cagA, cagE, oipA, iceA, babA2).
- To determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns of H. pylori isolated from bottled water.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 450 bottled mineral water samples.
- Isolation and identification of H. pylori.
- Genotyping of virulence genes: vacA, cagA, cagE, oipA, iceA, and babA2.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using various antibiotics.
Main Results:
- H. pylori was detected in 1.77% of samples, with Brand C showing the highest prevalence.
- July had the highest contamination rate (50%).
- Strains exhibited high resistance to metronidazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and trimethoprim (62.5% each).
- Common genotypes included VvacAs1a (100%), vacAm1a (87.5%), cagA (62.5%), and iceA1 (62.5%).
Conclusions:
- Bottled mineral water can be a source of virulent and antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains.
- Enhanced monitoring of bottled water production is recommended to mitigate transmission risks.
- Findings highlight the importance of water quality control in preventing H. pylori infections.
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