Abstract

The seroprevalence of H. pylori and the CagA positive strain in blood donors and in patients with gastroduodenal pathology was tested in relation to ABO(H), Lewis(a,b) phenotype and the secretory (Se/se) status of the host. High H. pylori seroprevalence (74–86%) was found in all studied groups including blood donors (79.1%). Compared with blood donors, significantly higher CagA seroprevalence was revealed in patients with gastric cancer and peptic ulcer disease.
A decrease in the prevalence of H. pylori and CagA was noted in patients with advanced cancer. Donors of blood group A and those with peptic ulcer disease showed a lower CagA seropostivity rate (p<0.05) compared with the related groups of the other  phenotypes. Donors of the Le(b-) phenotype were significantly more often infected with CagA positive strains. The proportion of non-secretors was significantly higher among patients with duodenal ulcer. However, the secretory status was not related to the CagA status.
The data suggest that ABH and the Lewis phenotype of the host may significantly influence the susceptibility of the host to be infected with a particular genotype of H. pylori. This should be taken into consideration in epidemiological and immunological studies of H. pylorihost interplay.