Correlation among fecal indicator bacteria and physicochemical parameters with the presence of Helicobacter pylori DNA in raw and drinking water from Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

Background The quality of raw and drinking water is a matter of considerable concern due to the possibility of fecal contamination. To assess the quality and public health risk of different types of water, the fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are used. However, some pathogens, such as Helicobacter pylori, may be present in water when FIB cannot be found. H pylori is recognized as the causative agent of chronic gastritis, peptic and duodenal ulcers, and gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships among physicochemical parameters, FIB concentrations, and the presence of H pylori DNA in raw and drinking water from Bogotá, Colombia. Materials and Methods A total of 310 water samples were collected 1 day per week from July 2015 to August 2016, and physicochemical parameters (pH, turbidity, conductivity, and residual free chlorine) were measured. Presence of H pylori DNA was determined and quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Fecal indicator bacteria (total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and spores of sulfite‐reducing Clostridia) were enumerated by using standard culture techniques. Results Thirty of 155 (31%) raw water samples and forty‐eight of 155 (38.7%) drinking water samples were positive for the presence of H pylori. No statistically significant relationships were found between physicochemical parameters or FIB with the presence or absence of H pylori in any sample (P < 0.05). Conclusions This study provides evidence of the presence of H pylori DNA in raw and drinking water in Bogotá, and shows that the detection and enumeration of FIB and physicochemical parameters in water do not correlate with the risk of contamination with H pylori.

Review: Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection

“…Stool DNA detection for H pylori was used in the study, and the overall prevalence of H pylori was 17.2%. 20 The monitored FIB included Escherichia coli, total coliforms, and spores of sulfite-reducing Clostridia. 6 In United Arab Emirates, the prevalence of H pylori was significantly different (P = .001) in tap water drinking individuals compared to bottled water drinkers (58.6% and 36.7%, respectively).…”

“…7 A long-term sampling analysis of raw and drinking water for fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and H pylori DNA was conducted in Bogota, Colombia. 20 The monitored FIB included Escherichia coli, total coliforms, and spores of sulfite-reducing Clostridia. The presence of H pylori DNA was revealed in 31% and 38.7% of raw and drinking water samples, respectively.…”

Antibacterial activities of volatile compounds in cereals and cereal by‐products

“…The zone of inhibition was observed and measured after 18 hr of incubation. Further, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of different plant extracts was determined based on growth inhibitory assay against indicator pathogens such as H. pylori (Leight et al., 2018; Vesga et al., 2019) and S. aureus (Al‐Hashedi et al., 2019; Karanam et al., 2008).…”

Helicobacter pylori virulence genotypes in Bogotá River and wastewater treatment plants in Colombia

“…On the other hand, considering the regulations for the use of treated wastewater (resolution 1207/ 2014 and 1256/ 2021, Environmental Ministry), 12,13 wastewater discharges (resolution 0631/2015, Environmental Ministry) 14 and discharges of domestic‐treated wastewater (resolution 699/ 2021, Environmental Ministry), 15 as a quality criteria for these categories the evaluation of thermotolerant coliforms, and other microorganisms such as fecal enterococci, human parasitic helminths, human parasitic protozoa and Salmonella sp., is only required. Nevertheless, recent studies 16–18 showed that the determination of E. coli and other fecal contamination indicators are not enough to assure free‐pathogens water. Thus, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) since 2015 included a new list of pathogenic microorganisms which can avoid conventional treatments of wastewater and be transmitted through water to humans 19,20 .…”