Seroepidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection in a Mennonite community in Durango State, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection among Mennonites (an ethnic group of German descent living in rural communities in Mexico) has not been previously studied.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies was examined in 152 Mennonite individuals in Durango State, Mexico, using enzyme-linked immunoassays. Seroprevalence association with sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics of the Mennonite community was also investigated.
RESULTS: In total, 77 (50.7%) of the 152 Mennonite participants (mean age, 38.4 ± 15.5 years) had H. pylori IgG antibodies, 35 (45.4%) of whom had H. pylori IgG antibody levels higher than 100 U/mL. Males and females had comparable seroprevalence rates of H. pylori and H. pylori IgG antibody levels. On the other hand, seroprevalence of H. pylori increased significantly with age and was significantly higher among women with history of deliveries and abortions than among those with no such obstetric characteristics. Logistic regression analysis of behavioral characteristics showed that H. pylori infection was associated with a low frequency of eating at restaurants and at fast food outlets (up to 10 times/year) (OR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.28-5.98; p = .009), and eating meat (up to 3 days/week) (OR = 2.84; 95% CI: 1.36-5.91; p = .005).
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on the seroprevalence of H. pylori among Mennonites, factors contributing to such infection, and the association of H. pylori infection with abortions and low frequencies of eating out of home and meat. Further research should be conducted on this topic.