Seroprevalence And Associated Factors Of Helicobacter Pylori Among Myanmar Children From The Peri-Urban Community Of Yangon

@#Helicobacter pylori infects 50% of children aged 5 years in developing countries. The infection is associated with socio-economic background and family composition. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and associated factors of Helicobacter pylori infection among Myanmar children in Insein Township, which is a peri-urban community situated in the northern region of Yangon. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Insein Township on 193 children, aged 2 to 13 years, who were tested for H. pylori antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Parents were interviewed using a questionnaire. Statistical analyses were done using chi-square test and two-sample t-test. The prevalence of H. pylori infections was 67.36%. The mean age of the participants was 7.6 +/- 3.85 years. Those positive for H. pylori antibody were significantly older (8.18+/-3.8) than those with negative results (6.41+/-3.7). There is no gender preponderance. The sero- positive rate was higher among low socio-economic group. The children who tested positive for H. pylori antibody had a mean family member of 5.97+/-2.22 and those who tested negative had 6.06+/-2.17. Thus, there was no association between H. pylori infection and number of family members. There was no association between H. pylori infection and overcrowding, type of drinking water, type of latrine used and type of housing.Our findings suggest that the prevalence of H. pylori infection among Myanmar children is common, as it is in other developing countries, and also highlight its association with socioeconomic status. Over time, the prevalence of H. pylori infections in children is expected to decline worldwide in parallel with the improvement in socioeconomic status of the nations. There is a need to intensify efforts of improving sanitation and living conditions in order to protect children against H. pylori infection.

Seasonal pattern of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in children under three years of age

Children aged one month to three years from Yangon Children Hospital were studied. A total of 923 cases of diarrhoea and 932 cases of control were included in this study. The total isolation rate of ETEC was 232 cases (25.2 percent) and 55 casea (5.9 percent) from diarrhoea and control cases respectively. In the diarrhoea group, out of 232 cases of ETEC, 43 cases (4.7 percent) were STLT, 134 cases (14.5 percent) were ST and 55 cases (6.0 percent) were LT. In the control group, out of 55 cases of ETEC, 6 cases (0.6 percent) were STLT, 21 cases (2.3 percent) were ST and 28 cases (3.0 percent) were LT. Although ETEC was found in children all the year round, the incidence rate was higher during the months of February to July with the highest peak of 47.0 percent in June. ETEC occurred in the control cases with the maximum isolation rate of 16 percent in June.

The relationship between congo red binding capacity and the virulence of Shigella strains

Study of pathogenic mechanisms of bacteria has been facilitated by the discovery of easily identifiable markers that are used to differentiate between virulent and avirulent organisms of a given bacterial species. One of these markers is a congo red binding phenotype. In this study, 55 isolates of shigellae were tested for their congo red binding capacity and the results were compared with those of HEp-2 tissue culture assay. Shigella isolates (85.45 percent) which invade into HEp-2 cells can also absorb congo red dye from the agar medium as well as from the solution. Non-invasive or avirulent Shigella (14.55 percent) cannot bind congo red resulting in white colonies formation. The present study shows that congo red binding capacity of virulent Shigella indicating that this assay can be used as a quick marker and inexpensive alternative to other invasive assays to determine the virulence of these bacteria.

Antibacterial activity of honey, propolis and bee pollen: an in-vitro study

An in-vitro study was carried out to determine the antibacterial activity of honey, propolis (bee glue) and bee pollen. It was found that pure honey is a potent inhibitor of all the pathogens tested. most pathogenic bacteria (except salm. enteritis and enteropathogenic escherichia coli) failed to grow in honey at a concentration of 30 percent and above. Propolis was found to have antibacterial activity only against gram-positive cocci, but limited activity against gram-negative bacilli. Propolis can eliminate the growth of gram-positive cocci even at a concentration of 10 percent. Bee pollen has no antibacterial effect on all the pathogens tested. The findings confirm previous reports of antimicrobial properties of these materials.

Antibacterial activity of bee products (bee venom & royal jelly) : An in-vitro study

Bee products namely royal jelly and bee venom provided by Bee Keeping Department of Myanmar were processed for their biological activity especially, antibacterial activity. The growth of 10 commonly encountered organisms were tested in media containing varying concentrations of bee venom and royal jelly. It was found that royal jelly and antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, Aeromonas and Vibrio spp. whereas bee venom had antibacterial effect on one gram-negative bacillus (Shigella dysenteriae) and gram-positive cocci (Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp.) tested.

Aeromonas and Plesiomonas strains isolated from diarrhoea and dysentery cases

The study was carried out to determine the frequency and importance of Aeromonas and plesimonas shigelloides in pathogenesis of gastroenteritis. Stool samples were collected from the diarrhoea and dysentery patients attended to the Infectious Diseases Hospital as well as from the outpatient clinics during August, 1990 to June, 1991. Isolation and identification of the pathogens was processed by standard biochemical test described by Cowen (1974) and according to the criteria outlined by von Graevenitz (1985). Of 124 patients studied, Aeromonas spp. were isolated from 5 ( 4.03

) and Plesiomonas shigelloides from 2 (1.61

). It is evident that Aeromonas and Plesiomonas spp. are not an uncommon aetiological agents of acute gastroenteritis in Myanmar. So, it is anticipated to study on these bacteria to expand the knowledge and to provide an information on the epidemiological control of the disease caused by these bacteria.

Invasive and adhesive properties of some salmonella strains isolated from different sources

The virulence of 36 Salmonella strains, isolated from different sources such as samples of stools, files, currency notes and children's snack food, were examined by HEp-2 tissue culture assay. Among the salmonella strains 24 strans of Salm. derby 7 Salm. anatum, 3 Salm. enteritidis, 2 Salm. agona strains were included. Out of 36 strains tested, 6 Salm. derby showed invasion in association with one of three adherence pattern like localized adhesive (LA), diffuse adherence pattern (DA) and aggregative adherence pattern (AG). Thirteen to 70 per cent of the HEp-2 cells were invaded with more than 5 in numbers of bacteria. This invasive capacity was confirmed by determining the viable cell count of the intracellular bacteria. Adherence was found in 24 out of 36 strains of salmonella. Fourteen strains of Salmonella (38.9 per cent) showed DA pattern, 5 strains showed AG adherence pattern (13.9 per cent) and 4 isolated in 13 strains (36.1 per cent) of Salmonella. Thus, HEp-2 cell invassion and or adhesion could be an indicator to estimate the virulence of these Salmonella strains.

Application of modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting virulent strains of enteroinvassive E.coli and Shigella

A virulent isolate of Shigella dysenteriae 1 strain, HW 829 wasd used for the production of specific antibody. Three rabbits (Japanese White strain) were immunized and the serum was obtained. These sera were absorbed with a virulent derivative of the same strain (i.e. HW 829). Tube agglutination titer of immune sera was varied from 1:1,280 to 1:5,120 with living and 1:5,120 to 1:20, 480 with boiled cells of the homologous strain. The absorbed sea were utilized as an antibody in ELISA assay using BIOTIN kit. The investigation of 33 Shigella and 22 enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) strains indicated complete agreement between ELISA results and those of the other virulence tests (Sereny test and HEP-2 tissue culture assay).