Identification of Helicobacter pylori by polymerase chain reaction in saliva of pediatric patients with abdominal pain

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium, which has been linked to many gastrointestinal diseases and has been shown to be a causative of gastrointestinal cancer. Aim: The purpose of study was to identify Helicobacter pylori and its virulence factors (cagA and vacA) by PCR in saliva samples of pediatric patients with abdominal pain. Methodology: A total of 150 patients were included in this study, of whom 74 were females and 76 males. Sublingual saliva was collected, which was inoculated into urea Christensen broth for enrichment, and then PCR was used to amplify the glmM, ureA, cagA, and vacA genes. Results: The glmM gene was identified in 60 (40%) of the patients, while the ureA gene was identified in only 3 (2%). In those samples positive for glmM and ureA, the cagA gene was identified in 17 (28.3%) and vacA in 26 (43.3%). Conclusion: Our results show that it is possible to identify H. pylori in the saliva of pediatric patients with abdominal pain, and this was achieved through subcultures in enrichment media and the subsequent PCR of the glmM gene.