[Helicobacter pylori in the dental plaque]

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) were detected in the dental plaque in 40 patients with peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis or gastric cancer with rapid urease test, anti-Hp fluorescein-labelled antibody staining, bacterial culture and electronic microscopy. At the same time, biopsy specimens from the gastric antrum of these patients were studied with WS staining and rapid urease test to detect Hp. The results show that a great lot of Hps is present in most of the patients' dental plaque. The morphological, biochemical and immunological characteristics of the Hp in the dental plaque are similar to those Hp in the gastric mucosa. The above results reveal that the Hp in the dental plaque may be identical with those in the stomach.