Skip to main content
PMC home page
Sexually Transmitted Infections logoLink to Sexually Transmitted Infections
. 2000 Dec;76(6):489–492. doi: 10.1136/sti.76.6.489

Helicobacter pylori infection transmitted sexually via oral-genital contact: a hypothetical model

G Eslick 1
PMCID: PMC1744238  PMID: 11221134

Abstract

Note added at proof stage

An updated search of the literature was made in August 2000.

Objectives: To postulate that Helicobacter pylori infection may be transmitted sexually, using the human female vagina as a reservoir for transmission.

Methods: A literature search was performed using Medline, Embase, Biological Abstracts, and Currents Contents (January 1983 to August 2000). Relevant keywords were used and additional manual searches were made using the reference lists from the selected articles to retrieve other papers relevant to the topic.

Conclusions: Helicobacter pylori infection could be transmitted sexually with the vagina acting as a potential temporary/permanent reservoir given the right environmental conditions.

Key Words: sexually transmitted infections; Helicobacter pylori; vagina; oral-genital contact

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (99.7 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Aceti A., Attanasio R., Pennica A., Taliani G., Sebastiani A., Rezza G., Ippolito G., Perucci C. A. Campylobacter pylori infection in homosexuals. Lancet. 1987 Jul 18;2(8551):154–155. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(87)92351-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bamford K. B., Bickley J., Collins J. S., Johnston B. T., Potts S., Boston V., Owen R. J., Sloan J. M. Helicobacter pylori: comparison of DNA fingerprints provides evidence for intrafamilial infection. Gut. 1993 Oct;34(10):1348–1350. doi: 10.1136/gut.34.10.1348. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Berger B. J., Kolton S., Zenilman J. M., Cummings M. C., Feldman J., McCormack W. M. Bacterial vaginosis in lesbians: a sexually transmitted disease. Clin Infect Dis. 1995 Dec;21(6):1402–1405. doi: 10.1093/clinids/21.6.1402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Blecker U., Lanciers S., Keppens E., Vandenplas Y. Evolution of Helicobacter pylori positivity in infants born from positive mothers. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1994 Jul;19(1):87–90. doi: 10.1097/00005176-199407000-00014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cave D. R. How is Helicobacter pylori transmitted? Gastroenterology. 1997 Dec;113(6 Suppl):S9–14. doi: 10.1016/s0016-5085(97)80004-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Edwards A., Thin R. N. Sexually transmitted diseases in lesbians. Int J STD AIDS. 1990 May;1(3):178–181. doi: 10.1177/095646249000100304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Ellis J. E., Yarlett N., Cole D., Humphreys M. J., Lloyd D. Antioxidant defences in the microaerophilic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis: comparison of metronidazole-resistant and sensitive strains. Microbiology. 1994 Sep;140(Pt 9):2489–2494. doi: 10.1099/13500872-140-9-2489. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Eslick G. D., Lim L. L., Byles J. E., Xia H. H., Talley N. J. Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with gastric carcinoma: a meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999 Sep;94(9):2373–2379. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.1999.01360.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Feldman R. A., Eccersley A. J., Hardie J. M. Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori: acquisition, transmission, population prevalence and disease-to-infection ratio. Br Med Bull. 1998;54(1):39–53. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a011678. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Ferguson D. A., Jr, Li C., Patel N. R., Mayberry W. R., Chi D. S., Thomas E. Isolation of Helicobacter pylori from saliva. J Clin Microbiol. 1993 Oct;31(10):2802–2804. doi: 10.1128/jcm.31.10.2802-2804.1993. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Fisk P., Riley V. Fellatio in the sexual transmission of Lancefield Group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus. Int J STD AIDS. 1995 Nov-Dec;6(6):458–458. doi: 10.1177/095646249500600624. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Georgopoulos S. D., Mentis A. F., Spiliadis C. A., Tzouvelekis L. S., Tzelepi E., Moshopoulos A., Skandalis N. Helicobacter pylori infection in spouses of patients with duodenal ulcers and comparison of ribosomal RNA gene patterns. Gut. 1996 Nov;39(5):634–638. doi: 10.1136/gut.39.5.634. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Goodman K. J., Correa P. The transmission of Helicobacter pylori. A critical review of the evidence. Int J Epidemiol. 1995 Oct;24(5):875–887. doi: 10.1093/ije/24.5.875. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Goodwin C. S., Blincow E. D., Warren J. R., Waters T. E., Sanderson C. R., Easton L. Evaluation of cultural techniques for isolating Campylobacter pyloridis from endoscopic biopsies of gastric mucosa. J Clin Pathol. 1985 Oct;38(10):1127–1131. doi: 10.1136/jcp.38.10.1127. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hirschl A. M., Richter M., Makristathis A., Prückl P. M., Willinger B., Schütze K., Rotter M. L. Single and multiple strain colonization in patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis: detection by macrorestriction DNA analysis. J Infect Dis. 1994 Aug;170(2):473–475. doi: 10.1093/infdis/170.2.473. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Holst E., Skarin A., Mårdh P. A. Characteristics of anaerobic comma-shaped bacteria recovered from the female genital tract. Eur J Clin Microbiol. 1982 Oct;1(5):310–316. doi: 10.1007/BF02019978. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Jorgensen M., Daskalopoulos G., Warburton V., Mitchell H. M., Hazell S. L. Multiple strain colonization and metronidazole resistance in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients: identification from sequential and multiple biopsy specimens. J Infect Dis. 1996 Sep;174(3):631–635. doi: 10.1093/infdis/174.3.631. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Marshall B. J., McGechie D. B., Rogers P. A., Glancy R. J. Pyloric Campylobacter infection and gastroduodenal disease. Med J Aust. 1985 Apr 15;142(8):439–444. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1985.tb113444.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Martin M. V., Wilkinson G. R. The oral yeast flora of 10-year-old schoolchildren. Sabouraudia. 1983 Jun;21(2):129–135. doi: 10.1080/00362178385380201. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Mollison L. C., Lecons R. J., Thein-Htut, Rajabalendaran N., Perera C. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in central Australian aborigines. Med J Aust. 1994 Feb 21;160(4):182–184. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Namavar F., Roosendaal R., Kuipers E. J., de Groot P., van der Bijl M. W., Peña A. S., de Graaff J. Presence of Helicobacter pylori in the oral cavity, oesophagus, stomach and faeces of patients with gastritis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1995 Mar;14(3):234–237. doi: 10.1007/BF02310363. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Parente F., Maconi G., Sangaletti O., Minguzzi M., Vago L., Rossi E., Bianchi Porro G. Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and related gastroduodenal lesions in spouses of Helicobacter pylori positive patients with duodenal ulcer. Gut. 1996 Nov;39(5):629–633. doi: 10.1136/gut.39.5.629. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Perez-Perez G. I., Witkin S. S., Decker M. D., Blaser M. J. Seroprevalence of helicobacter pylori infection in couples. J Clin Microbiol. 1991 Mar;29(3):642–644. doi: 10.1128/jcm.29.3.642-644.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Pine L., Malcolm G. B., Curtis E. M., Brown J. M. Demonstration of Actinomyces and Arachnia species in cervicovaginal smears by direct staining with species-specific fluorescent-antibody conjugate. J Clin Microbiol. 1981 Jan;13(1):15–21. doi: 10.1128/jcm.13.1.15-21.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Polish L. B., Douglas J. M., Jr, Davidson A. J., Perez-Perez G. I., Blaser M. J. Characterization of risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection among men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic: lack of evidence for sexual transmission. J Clin Microbiol. 1991 Oct;29(10):2139–2143. doi: 10.1128/jcm.29.10.2139-2143.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Raymond J., Bargaoui K., Kalach N., Bergeret M., Barbet P., Dupont C. Isolation of Helicobacter pylori in a six-day-old newborn. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1995 Aug;14(8):727–728. doi: 10.1007/BF01690886. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Reid G., McGroarty J. A., Tomeczek L., Bruce A. W. Identification and plasmid profiles of Lactobacillus species from the vagina of 100 healthy women. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 1996 Aug;15(1):23–26. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.1996.tb00354.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Sahay P., Axon A. T. Reservoirs of Helicobacter pylori and modes of transmission. Helicobacter. 1996 Sep;1(3):175–182. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-5378.1996.tb00035.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Schütze K., Hentschel E., Dragosics B., Hirschl A. M. Helicobacter pylori reinfection with identical organisms: transmission by the patients' spouses. Gut. 1995 Jun;36(6):831–833. doi: 10.1136/gut.36.6.831. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Singh V., Trikha B., Vaiphei K., Nain C. K., Thennarasu K., Singh K. Helicobacter pylori: evidence for spouse-to-spouse transmission. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1999 Jun;14(6):519–522. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1746.1999.01908.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Thomas E., Jiang C., Chi D. S., Li C., Ferguson D. A., Jr The role of the oral cavity in Helicobacter pylori infection. Am J Gastroenterol. 1997 Dec;92(12):2148–2154. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Tsang K. W., Lam S. K. Helicobacter pylori and extra-digestive diseases. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1999 Sep;14(9):844–850. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1746.1999.01974.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Xia H. H., Talley N. J. Natural acquisition and spontaneous elimination of Helicobacter pylori infection: clinical implications. Am J Gastroenterol. 1997 Oct;92(10):1780–1787. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Zdolsek B., Hellberg D., Fröman G., Nilsson S., Mårdh P. A. Vaginal microbiological flora and sexually transmitted diseases in women with recurrent or current vulvovaginal candidiasis. Infection. 1995 Mar-Apr;23(2):81–84. doi: 10.1007/BF01833870. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Zenilman J. M. Ethnicity and sexually transmitted infections. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 1998 Feb;11(1):47–52. doi: 10.1097/00001432-199802000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Sexually Transmitted Infections are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES