Saeideh Afsharipour - Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research & Education in Transfusion Medicine, Saveh Regional Blood Transfusion Center, Tehran, Iran
Razieh Nazari - Department of Microbiology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran
Masoumeh Douraghi - Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Objective(s):Helicobacter pylori infection occurs worldwide, but the prevalence of this infection varies greatly among different countries and population groups. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) antibodies in asymptomatic healthy population in the center of Iran and to investigate the relation with different parameters. Materials and Methods:Totally, ۵۲۵ individuals aged ۱۷-۶۰ years were enrolled in study. The serum samples of participants were tested for anti-H. pylori IgG and anti-CagA IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent method (ELISA). ABO blood grouping was also done by hemagglutination test. Results: The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG was ۷۴.۲% and their rates increased with age. The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG was higher in males (۷۴.۶%) than in females (۷۱.۶%). There was statistically inverse association between H. pylori infection and education level (P=۰.۰۴) and marital status (P=۰.۰۰۰). The most prevalent blood group was type AB with positive Rh-phenotype (۸۲.۴%). In H. pylori infected individuals the seroprevalence of anti-CagA antibody was ۴۶.۹%. The seroprevalence of anti-CagA IgG was in males ۴۸.۶% and in females ۳۱.۶%. There was no statistically significant association between anti-CagA IgG positivity and age, occupation, socioeconomic status, ABO blood groups and Rh status. Conclusion:These resultsshowed that H. pylori infection was common in the asymptomatic individuals. Almost half of the infected individuals acquire CagA-positive strains of H. pylori. Moreover, it seems that males are more susceptible to infection with CagA-positive strains compared to females.

Cytotoxin-assosiated gene A, ELISA, Helicobacter pylori, Iran, Seroprevalence