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HELICOBACTER PYLORI AND INTESTINAL PARASITES ARE NOT DETRIMENTAL TO THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF AMERINDIANS

Gastrointestinal parasites have evolved with humans and colonize many asymptomatic subjects. We investigated the influence of microbial gastrointestinal colonization on the nutritional status of rural Amerindians (40 males and 61 females). Helicobacter pylori was detected by ¹³C-breath test, and intestinal parasites were detected in fecal specimens. Body morphometry and bioelectrical impedance measurements were measured. Although Amerindians showed low height and weight for age, they had an adequate body mass index, morphometric parameters, and cell mass. Intestinal parasites were detected in 99% of the subjects, with no detrimental effect on nutritional parameters. Helicobacter pylori was present in 82% of adults and half the children, and was positively correlated with improved nutritional status. Despite the high prevalence of gastrointestinal microbes often associated with disease, the studied population of Amerindians had a body morphometry and composition indicative of good nutritional status, and improved in children positive for gastric H. pylori.

Received June 3, 2006. Accepted for publication October 31, 2006.

Acknowledgments: We thank the Amerindian communities for participating in the study.

Financial support: The study was partially supported by the Regione Autonoma Sardegna contributions (L.R. 11.4.1996 N.19), Italy, and the Belfer Program in Human Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) assisted with publication expenses.

^* Address correspondence to María G. Domínguez-Bello, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, 00931. E-mail: mgdbello{at}uprr.pr

Authors’ addresses: Elisabetta Marini, Roberto Buffa, and Giovanni Floris, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy, Telephone: 39-7-675-4156, 39-7-675-4164, and 39-7-675-4130, Fax: 39-7-675-4032, E-mails: emarini{at}unica.it, rbuffa{at}unica.it, and floris{at}unica.it. Ana L. Maldonado-Contreras, Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela, Telephone: 787-764-0000 extension 7798; Fax: 787-764-2610, E-mail: almaldon{at}gmail.com. Stefano Cabras and Walter Racugno, Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy, Telephone: 39-7-675-8536 and 39-7-675-8532, Fax: 39-7-675-8504, E-mails: s.cabras{at}unica.it and racugno{at}unica.it. Glida Hidalgo and Aura Marin, Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Telephone: 58-248-521-2223, Fax: 58-248-521-3319, E-mails: glihidalgo{at}ivic.ve and auramarin{at}hotmail.com. Luis R. Pericchi, Department of Mathematics University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, 00931, Telephone: 787-528-1235, Fax: 787-281-0651), E-mail: lrpericchi{at}email.uprrp.edu. Maria E. Castellanos, Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain, Telephone: 34-91-488-8244, Fax: 34-91-488-7626, E-mail: maria.castellanos{at}urjc.es. Michael Gröschl, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany, Telephone: 49-9131-853-3745, Fax: 49-9131-853-3714, E-mail: Michael.Groeschl{at}kinder.imed.uni-erlangen.de. Martin J. Blaser, Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, Telephone: 212-263-6394, Fax: 212-263-7700, E-mail: martin.blaser{at}med.nyu.edu. María G. Domínguez-Bello, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, 00931, Telephone: 787-764-0000, Extension 4884, Fax: 787-764-2610, E-mails: mgdbello{at}uprr.pr and mgbello{at}gmail.com.

Reprint requests: Maria G. Domínguez-Bello, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Av. Ponce Leon, NCN 343, San Juan, PR 00931.

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