Association between the gastric microbiota and histopathological changes in the gastric mucosa.

Abstract

Despite the hostile environment of the stomach, recent studies suggest that gastric mucosa has a core microbiome. This raises the possibility of a pathogenic role of non H. pylori organisms in the gastric mucosa which may contribute to dyspeptic symptoms. Thus, this study investigates bacterial diversity of the stomach using PCR DGGE techniques to provide information on the possible role of other non-H. pylori microorganisms in causing gastric pathology. For the first time in Sri Lanka it was reported the presence of yeast species majority being Candida albicans in the gastric mucosa and its presence was significantly associated with gastric pathology. A diverse interpersonal variation of bacteria in the gastric mucosa was observed. Histopathological grading increased in the presence of low bacterial diversity which suggest disruption of the normal gastric microbiota with the establishment of pathogenic microorganisms.