Co-existence of Sarcina Organisms and Helicobacter pylori Gastritis/Duodenitis in Pediatric Siblings

Abstract

Sarcina are gram-positive anaerobic bacteria found to be associated with delayed gastric emptying and gastric outlet obstruction. We describe two cases of Sarcina co-existing with Helicobacter pylori organisms in pediatric siblings presenting within four months of each other with pyloric obstruction secondary to severe gastritis/duodenitis. The co-existence of Sarcina and Helicobacter pylori has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported. Its characteristic tetrad packeted morphology permits Sarcina to be readily identified on routine sections. Detection of these organisms in gastric biopsies should prompt consideration of gastric outlet obstruction and/or delayed gastric emptying as a possible etiologic factor.

Introduction

Sarcinaventriculi (S. ventriculi) are gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacteria first documented in the human gastrointestinal tract in 1842 [1–4]. Latin for “package” or “bundle,” Sarcinacocci undergo fission in three planes, perpendicular to one another, resulting in their characteristic packeted morphology, often in tetrads but occasionally in cubes of eight [3,5,6]. In addition, S. ventriculi has a thick (150 to 200 nm) fibrous layer on the outer surface of its cell wall composed mostly of cellulose [1,3]. Given these unique conjoining features—tetrad packets with a thick cellulose-dominant wall—it is not surprising that these organisms were initially thought to be vegetable matter [3].

The purpose of this article is to report an unusual occurrence of pediatric siblings with metachronous presentations of severe Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) gastritis/duodenitis with coexisting Sarcina. Only rare pediatric cases of human disease associated with Sarcina organisms have been documented [7]. To our knowledge, these are the first cases of Sarcina organisms co-existing with H. pylori.

Report of a Case

Clinical history

A previously healthy 12-year old male underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) following a 3-month history of emesis and epigastric pain, which did not respond to standard dose proton pump inhibitor. Endoscopy revealed erosive esophagitis in the distal third of the esophagus (Figure 1A), erythematous gastric mucosa and a highly edematous, tight pylorus (Figure 1B).At the time, serum antibodies for H.pylori were positive, and four months later, the patient’s 16-year old sister presented with similar symptoms. She had a history of medication-controlled gastroesophageal reflux disease with a normal EGD one-year prior; however, her current endoscopy was significant for severe erosive esophagitis and a highly edematous pylorus. In addition, the stomach was markedly inflamed and full of food debris. Endoscopic biopsies were obtained.

Figure 1.

Brother’s endoscopic images.

A) Severe erosive esophagitis in the distal third of esophagus. B) Marked narrowing (pinpoint lumen) of pylorus. Sister’s endoscopic images (four months later) were morphologically similar however there was complete pyloric obstruction secondary to peri-pyloric inflammation and edema. Histology in the siblings with co-existing Sarcina and H. pylori were nearly identical. C) Active ulcerating esophagitis (hematoxylin/eosin, ×200). D) Chronic active H. pylori gastritis (hematoxylin/eosin, ×400). E) Sarcina organisms in overlying gastric mucin showing characteristic basophilic tetrad packeted morphology (hematoxylin/eosin, ×600). F) H. pylori organisms in gastric pit (hematoxylin/eosin, ×400). H) pylori associated duodenitis was also present in both siblings (images not shown).

Histopathology

Histologic features of the sibling’s biopsies were nearly identical: active erosive esophagitis with Sarcina present in ulcer bed debris; chronic active H. pylori gastritis with Sarcina and H. pylori organisms admixed in overlying mucin as well as in areas of erosion; and H. pylori duodenitis also with both organisms admixed in areas of erosion (Figures 1C–F). Classic tetrad packets of Sarcina organisms were present in both patients (Figure 1E). Although H. Pylori was present in surface mucin and gastric pits, Sarcina organisms were identified only in surface exudate and remained non-invasive in both patients.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR); DNA sequencing and alignment

Areas containing Sarcina organisms, present in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from biopsies of the brother’s esophagus and stomach and the sister’s esophageal biopsies were isolated through microdissection. The pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) gene, present in only a few bacterial species, including S. ventriculi, allows bacteria to convert pyruvate to acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide, and was therefore used as positive identification. Exploiting this unique metabolic feature, primerswere designed (forward: 5′-AGCGGTTGCAGCGACAATAG-GA-3′; reverse: 5′-CTGCAACCAGCGCTGCACCT-3′) to target the PDC gene of S.ventriculi (AF354297.1), yielding a 149 base-pair amplicon. The PCR and DNA sequencing techniques used in this study follow the protocol outlined previously [8].

Findings by DNA sequencing and alignment

Amplification of the PDC gene was present in DNA isolated from the brother’s esophagus and stomach biopsies, with a 96% blast match rate to S. ventriculi. Both of these samples, esophageal and stomach, matched to each other with 100% identity. Multiple attempts to amplify DNA isolated from the sister’s esophageal biopsy yielded no reaction. As positive control tissue produced expected results, the DNA from the sister’s sample was assumed to be non-viable.

Discussion

The natural habitat of Sarcina is the soil, yet its presence has also been well documented in stagnant water, on the surface of cereal seeds, and interestingly as one of the major bacterial contaminants isolated from commercially available children’s soap bubbles [2–4,9].It has been postulated that when Sarcina is present in the human GI tract, the organisms are likely ingested with soil particles associated with food [3]. Further, Sarcina has been identified in the feces of healthy human adults, particularly vegetarians [1].

Although Sarcina is well-recognized in the veterinarian literature as a cause of abomasal gas and bloating in ruminants [10–13], its role as a causative agent of gastrointestinal disease versus bystander in humans remains uncertain. There have been a few reports of Sarcina causing acute emphysematous gastritis, a rare potentially fatal condition resulting from invasion of the gastric wall by gas-forming bacteria, including a three year-old child who recovered following antibiotic therapy against anaerobes [7].

Sarcina is not generally present in the normal healthy human stomach; however, it has been reported in the setting of pyloric ulceration and stenosis [3]. Indeed, when Dr. Ferrier of King’s College first documented the presence of Sarcina within the human stomach in 1842, he used the term “Sarcinous vomiting,” as he generally found the organisms in patients “with chronic diseases of the stomach associated with obstinate vomiting of acid, frothy, yeasty matters’ [2]. In the setting of gastric obstruction, the presence of carbohydrates and other nutrients in food provide fermentative substrates for Sarcina [3]. Sarcina thrives under these conditions since they are able to tolerate the strongly acidic environment of the stomach [3,11,14,15], while the growth of other microorganisms is inhibited at this low pH. In their recent review of endoscopic biopsies, Lam-Himlin and colleagues identified Sarcina most commonly in patients with a history of gastric outlet obstruction or delayed gastric emptying [8].

We describe pediatric siblings with identical presentations of active H. pylori gastritis/duodenitis with the co-existence of Sarcina occurring four months apart. Given their relationship, these two patients are assumed to have had similar exposures. The degree of gastric and duodenal inflammation and edema in both cases were marked enough to cause secondary gastric outlet obstruction including retained food and difficulty passing the endoscope through the pylorus. This presentation is in keeping with the documented association of the presence of Sarcina with gastric outlet obstruction.

In addition to the histologic evidence of Sarcina organisms, the brother’s esophagus and stomach biopsies showed the distinct 149 base-pair ampliconfrom the PDC gene of S. ventriculi. Subsequent sequencing showed a 96% homology (NCBI reference sequence AF354297.1) providing molecular confirmation of the morphologic impression of S. ventriculi. Sarcina’s characteristic histomorphology of basophilic tetrads or cubes of eight, measuring approximately the size of a red blood cell, make them quite distinct once recognized. Our experience with respect to these cases emphasizes that Sarcina organisms can be easily and accurately identified on H&E-stained sections. We speculate that these organisms are present in more cases of active esophagitis/gastritis than are currently documented and that increased awareness will lead to greater recognition.