[Trial for isolation of Helicobacter pylori form fecal specimen by immunomagnetic beads separation]

In order to clarify the possibility of feco-oral transmission of Helicobacter pylori, we have employed an immunomagnetic beads (IMB) separation technique and tried to isolate H. pylori from fecal samples. Microaerophilic cultivation and PCR of H. pylori were positive when H. pylori (10(3) cfu) was suspended in Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS) for the IMB separation technique. In contrast, when a lower number of H. pylori (10(2) cfu) was suspended in HBSS, 2nd PCR was positive but cultivation was negative. After IMB separation technique from fecal sample containing H. pylori (2 x 10(4) cfu), 20 cfu of H. pylori was recovered by culture. In this case, 1st PCR was negative but 2nd PCR was positive. From a fecal sample of a patient infected with H. pylori, H. pylori was detected only by combination of IMB separation and PCR, although H. pylori was not recovered by culture. These results indicate that IMB separation technique followed by cultivation or PCR would be useful for estimation of the presence of H. pylori fecal samples.