ABSTRACT
The public health implications from H. pylori infection are considerable but the transmission routes are largely unknown. In this study, the prevalence, patient characteristics and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection were comparatively investigated in Iceland, Sweden and Estonia. Blood samples were collected from 1046 subjects aged approximately 25-50 y (447 in Reykjavik, 359 in Uppsala and 240 in Tartu) for determination of antibodies to H. pylori and its cagA protein. The prevalence of H. pylori antibodies was 69% in Tartu, 36% in Reykjavik and 11% in Uppsala (p<0.0001). There was an increase in prevalence with age in Iceland and Sweden but not in Estonia. The prevalence of antibodies to the cagA protein in subjects seroreactive to H. pylori was lower in Reykjavik (36%) than in Uppsala (69%) and Tartu (62%) (p<0.0001). H. pylori infection, as determined by seroreactivity, was positively associated with smoking and BMI. Overall, socioeconomic development during the childhood period seems to be the most important factor for the prevalence of H. pylori infection. In adults, smoking may be a contributory factor.
Subject(s)
Antibodies/blood , Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Bacterial Proteins/immunology , Helicobacter Infections/epidemiology , Helicobacter pylori/immunology , Adult , Body Height , Body Mass Index , Cross-Sectional Studies , Estonia/epidemiology , Female , Helicobacter Infections/economics , Helicobacter Infections/immunology , Humans , Iceland/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Socioeconomic Factors , Sweden/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic reports on the effect of microbe exposure on the development of atopy and allergic asthma are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: The study investigates the association between serologic markers of infections and occurrence of atopy, allergic asthma, and rhinitis among adults in Iceland, Sweden, and Estonia. METHODS: Individuals (n = 1249; mean age, 42 years) from Iceland, Sweden, and Estonia underwent a structured interview and blood sampling. Specific IgE was measured against 4 allergens, and IgG antibodies were measured against Helicobacter pylori, Toxoplasmosis gondii, hepatitis A virus, herpes simplex virus 1, Chlamydia pneumoniae, EBV, and cytomegalovirus. RESULTS: Nonatopic subjects more often had positive serology for Helicobacter pylori, herpes simplex virus 1, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and cytomegalovirus. Having a low number (
Subject(s)
Asthma/epidemiology , Asthma/microbiology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/epidemiology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/microbiology , Infections/epidemiology , Adult , Animals , Chlamydia Infections/complications , Chlamydia Infections/epidemiology , Chlamydia Infections/immunology , Chlamydophila pneumoniae/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Estonia/epidemiology , Female , Helicobacter Infections/complications , Helicobacter Infections/epidemiology , Helicobacter Infections/immunology , Helicobacter pylori/immunology , Hepatitis A/complications , Hepatitis A/epidemiology , Hepatitis A/immunology , Hepatitis A virus/immunology , Herpes Simplex/complications , Herpes Simplex/epidemiology , Herpes Simplex/immunology , Herpesvirus 1, Human/immunology , Humans , Iceland/epidemiology , Immunoglobulin E/blood , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Infections/immunology , Male , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Sweden/epidemiology , Toxoplasma/immunology , Toxoplasmosis/complications , Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology , Toxoplasmosis/immunologyABSTRACT
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii which infects up to one-third of the world human population. Toxoplasmosis in neonates and immunocompromised patients can lead to severe disease and death. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors for T. gondii infection in Iceland, Sweden and Estonia, and tested the hypothesis that T. gondii infection causes systemic inflammation and protects against atopy. Blood samples were collected from 1277 randomly selected subjects. The presence of T. gondii IgG antibodies was determined by an ELISA method and levels of Hs-CRP by immunoturbidimetric assay. The prevalence of T. gondii antibodies was 54.9% in Tartu, 23% in Uppsala and 9.8% in Reykjavik (p<0.0001). The risk of positive T. gondii antibodies increased with the number of siblings and with age in Sweden. T. gondii infection was associated with asthma related symptoms and increased Hs-CRP (p = 0.02). No association was found with IgE-sensitization and lung function. We concluded that risk factors for T. gondii infection suggested that soil exposure was 1 of the mechanisms in all 3 countries and a meat-associated infection route is a risk in Sweden.
