Work

Prevalence and co-detection of Helicobacter pylori, Epstein–Barr virus, and human papillomavirus in gastric tissues: a cross-sectional study from Yazd, Iran (2019–2022)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background and Objectives: Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality and exhibits significant geographic variation. Although Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a well-established carcinogen, the contributions of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV), individually or in conjunction with H. pylori, are not fully understood. This study assessed the prevalence and co-detection of these pathogens in gastric tissues from Yazd, Iran. Materials and Methods: An archive-based cross-sectional study was conducted using 130 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embed- ded (FFPE) gastric specimens collected between 2019 and 2022, comprising 83 gastric adenocarcinomas and 47 non-malig- nant tissues. H. pylori was detected by conventional PCR targeting 16S rRNA, while EBV and HPV were identified by nested PCR targeting EBNA-1 and L1, respectively. PCR products were confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis, and selected amplicons were verified by Sanger sequencing. Results: H. pylori was detected in 74 of 130 specimens (56.9%), with a prevalence of 62.7% in malignant tissues and 46.8% in non-malignant tissues (p=0.080). EBV was identified in three malignant cases (3.6%) and HPV in one malignant case (1.2%), with no positive findings in non-malignant samples (p=0.187 and p=0.450, respectively). Three co-detections were observed in malignant tissues, including two cases of H. pylori with EBV and one case of H. pylori with HPV. Due to the limited number of EBV- and HPV-positive cases, association analyses lacked statistical power. Conclusion: H. pylori was the predominant microorganism detected, while EBV and HPV were rare and co-detections were infrequent. Larger prospective studies employing complementary molecular techniques and H. pylori virulence profiling are required to elucidate the clinical significance of these infections in gastric carcinogenesis.

Source: Iranian Journal of Microbiology

DOI: 10.18502/ijm.v18i5.22867

Authors: Zahra Rouhipanah, Seyed Sajjad Alavi Kakhki, Mehdi Fatahi-Bafghi, Javad Charostad, Akram Astani

Institutions: Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Helicobacter pylori-related gastroenterology studies

Subfield: Gastroenterology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences