AUTHOR=Mazaheri Assadi Mahnaz , Chamanrokh Parastoo , Whitehouse Chris A. , Huq Anwar 

TITLE=Methods for Detecting the Environmental Coccoid Form of Helicobacter pylori

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2015.00147

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2015.00147

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Helicobacter pylori</italic> is recognized as the most common pathogen to cause gastritis, peptic and duodenal ulcers, and gastric cancer. The organisms are found in two forms: (1) spiral-shaped bacillus and (2) coccoid. <italic>H. pylori</italic> coccoid form, generally found in the environment, is the transformed form of the normal spiral-shaped bacillus after exposed to water or adverse environmental conditions such as exposure to sub-inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobial agents. The putative infectious capability and the viability of <italic>H. pylori</italic> under environmental conditions are controversial. This disagreement is partially due to the fact of lack in detecting the coccoid form of <italic>H. pylori</italic> in the environment. Accurate and effective detection methods of <italic>H. pylori</italic> will lead to rapid treatment and disinfection, and less human health damages and reduction in health care costs. In this review, we provide a brief introduction to <italic>H. pylori</italic> environmental coccoid forms, their transmission, and detection methods. We further discuss the use of these detection methods including their accuracy and efficiency.</p>