The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection and risk factors associated with its transmission are not well understood. Kazakhstan is country with two ethnic groups, Asian (Kazakhs) and Western (Russians), living under similar socioeconomic conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the seroepidemiologic pattern of H. pylori and hepatitis A among the same individuals from both ethnic groups, with emphasis on water source and household sanitation practices. This was a cross-sectional seroepidemiologic study conducted among unrelated healthy individuals in Kazakhstan. From May through August 1999, individuals between the ages of 10 and 60 years from Almaty, Kazakhstan, were invited to participate. Demographic information, socioeconomic factors, living conditions, and various aspects of the local household environment including access to water were collected. A clean water index (CWI) was created based on combined factors, consistency of boiling water before drinking, frequency of storing and reusing water, and frequency of bathing and showering. H. pylori and hepatitis A antibodies were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two hundred eighty-eight individuals between the ages of 10 and 60 years participated. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was almost identical among the two ethnic groups (Russians 79% and Kazakhs 80%). H. pylori infection was inversely correlated with the CWI (i.e., 56%, 79%, and 95% for high, middle, and low, respectively (P < .05). Drinking river water had highest risk of H. pylori infection (OR ‫ס‬ 13.6, 95% CI ‫ס‬ 1.8-102.4; P < .01, compared with tap water). Crowding showed no significant effect on H. pylori prevalence. Anti-HAV antibodies were found in 86% of the population, 90% among the Russians versus 82% among the Kazakhs (OR ‫ס‬ 1.8, 95% CI ‫ס‬ 1.1-3.8, P ‫ס‬ .05). Although the two infections were highly correlated (P < .001), antibody to both infections were present simultaneously in only 74%. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in Kazakhstan is very high. The data suggest that transmission of H. pylori can be water borne, related to poor sanitary practices, or both. The high prevalence of antibodies to H. pylori and HAV among this population is a marker for poor sanitation and hygienic practices. Reducing the rate of H. pylori transmission will require improvements in overall sanitation including clean water, waste disposal, as well as in household hygienic practices.

Studies are difficult in areas lacking modern facilities due to the inability to reliably collect, store, and ship samples. Thus, we sought to evaluate the use of a dry plasma collection device for seroepidemiology studies. Plasma was obtained by fingerstick using a commercial dry plasma collection device (Chemcard Plasma Collection Device) and serum (venipuncture) from individuals in Kazakhstan. Plasma samples were air dried for 15 min and then stored desiccated in foil zip-lock pouches at 4 to 6°C and subsequently shipped to the United States by air at ambient temperature. Serum samples remained frozen at ؊20°C until assayed. Helicobacter pylori status was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (HM-CAP EIA) for the dry plasma and the serum samples. The results were concordant in 250 of the 289 cases (86.5%). In 25 cases (8.6%), the dry plasma samples gave indeterminate results and could not be retested because only one sample was collected. Five serum samples were positive, and the corresponding dry plasma samples were negative; one serum sample was negative, and the corresponding plasma sample was positive. The relative sensitivity and specificity of the Chemcard samples to serum were 97.6 and 97.9%, respectively, excluding those with indeterminate results. Repeated freeze-thawing had no adverse effect on the accuracy of the test. We found the dry plasma collection device to provide an accurate and practical alternative to serum when venipuncture may be difficult or inconvenient and sample storage and handling present difficulties, especially for seroepidemiologic studies in rural areas or developing countries and where freeze-thawing may be unavoidable.Helicobacter pylori is a major human pathogen that is etiologically linked to gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, and primary gastric B-cell lymphoma (1, 3). There is continued interest in the epidemiology of H. pylori infection in order to better characterize the prevalence of infection, as well as the natural history and mode of transmission of the infection (1, 3). One problem with obtaining specimens from developing countries, where the infection is most common, has been the ability to reliably collect, store, and assay serum or plasma samples (N. Broutet, G. Duperrex, B. Bergery, and F. Megraud, Letter, Lancet 354:1529-1530, 1999). The problems relating to storage and transport of these samples have often been the limiting factor in determining which questions can be addressed in seroepidemiologic studies, especially in areas lacking modern medical facilities. Shipment of frozen serum samples is expensive, requiring the use of dry ice and expedited shipping schedules, and requires compliance with national and international regulations governing the shipment of biohazardous materials. Delays are not uncommon and can result in compromised samples. A method that eliminated the need to store and ship frozen serum would therefore be welcome. We evaluated the feasibility of using a simple device that allows collection of dry plasma...

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