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Abstract

The living conditions of many aboriginal communities in Canada may place their residents at risk for H. pylori infection. Our aims were to determine: (1) the seroprevalence of H. pylori in a traditional Indian community, (2) the clinical relevance of H. pylori infection in this population, and (3) if H. pylori could be identified by polymerase chain reaction from the local water. A demographic questionnaire was administered, and blood was collected from subjects in an Indian community in northwestern Manitoba. The serum was analyzed by ELISA for IgG to H. pylori and to CagA. ABO and Lewis antigens were tested. Age-adjusted incidence of gastric cancer and of hospitalizations associated with diagnoses of peptic ulcer were determined for the Indian and non-Indian Manitoba population in the years 1989-1993. Nested PCR was performed on lake water using H. pylori-specific primers and the amplicons probed with an internal Dig-labeled probe. Three hundred six (59%) of approximately 518 individuals who were resident in the community at the time of the study were enrolled. The ELISA for H. pylori was positive in 291 (95%). There was no association between H. pylori seropositivity and age, sex, gastrointestinal complaints, medications, housing characteristics, and ABO or Lewis antigen status. CagA was positive in 84.5% of infected subjects. The average annual age-adjusted incidence of hospitalizations associated with diagnoses of peptic ulcer disease in Manitoba was higher for treaty-status Indians (394.3/100,000) than for non-Indians (203.8/100,000), but gastric cancer rates were similar (11.2/100,000 vs 11.6/100,000). No H. pylori DNA was detected in the lake water. In conclusion, the seroprevalence of CagA-positive H. pylori is high in this representative Manitoban Indian community. This may be associated with an increased risk for peptic ulcer disease but is not associated with an increased risk for gastric cancer.

Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975‐2006, featuring colorectal cancer trends and impact of interventions (risk factors, screening, and treatment) to reduce future rates

“…A family history of CRC and a personal history of CRC, colorectal polyps, or chronic inflammatory bowel disease are major risk factors for CRC 82–83. Risk for CRC is about twice that of an average person for those who have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) who has had CRC; risk is even greater if the relative was diagnosed at a young age or if more than one first-degree relative has had CRC 84–85.…”

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Canadian Isolates of Helicobacter pylori in Northeastern Ontario

“…Infection is strongly correlated with crowding, smoking, diet and poor sanitation ( 8 – 11 ). Unfortunately, such conditions exist within the most vulnerable populations in Canada; specifically, some First Nations communities have demonstrated rates as high as 95% ( 12 ).…”

Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Australasian Children and Adolescents

“…Maori have higher rates of Helicobacter pylori colonisation in childhood than Europeans in the same community [23]. Higher rates of this gastric infection have also been seen in Canadian First Nation peoples [24]. In contrast, rates of Campylobacter infection appear to be lower in NZ Maori populations than in respective Europeans [22].…”