Introduction This study compares
virulence markers of
Helicobacter pylori isolated from
patients in 2 cities in the Brazilian
Amazon.
Methods The study analyzed 168
patients with chronic
gastritis from Belém and 151 from Bragança,
State of Pará,
Brazil. Levels of
bacterial DNA associated with cagA and vacA
alleles were checked by
PCR, and
hematoxylin-
eosin staining was used for histologic
diagnosis. Results In Bragança 87% of
patients were
genotype s1m1 cagA-positive (s1m1 cagA+), compared with 76% in Belém. In samples from
patients in both cities, there was an
association between s1m1 cagA+
strains and gastric mucosal damage. Conclusions Both cities have a high frequency of s1m1 cagA+
strains of H. pylori. .