Acta Vet. Brno 2021, 90: 365-373

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb202190030365

Milk and dairy products as a possible source of environmental transmission of Helicobacter pylori

Zora Šťástková, Pavlína Navrátilová, Aneta Gřondělová

University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Department of Animal Origin Food & Gastronomic Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic

Received February 4, 2021
Accepted August 31, 2021

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is found worldwide, and it is estimated that more than 50% of the population is infected. The presence of H. pylori in the gastrointestinal tract is associated with the occurrence of serious human diseases such as chronic gastritis, duodenal ulcer or gastric cancer. Therefore, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified H. pylori as a Group 1 carcinogen in 1994. The routes of H. pylori transmission are not yet precisely known. Many authors agree that humans may become infected by H. pylori through foodstuffs. Milk is one of the basic foods of people of all age categories. Helicobacter pylori has been isolated from milk derived from various livestock, such as cows, sheep, goat, camel or buffalo milk. This review research paper indicates that H. pylori may be present in different types of foods and suggests that consumption of milk and selected dairy products may be a source of H. pylori infection for humans.

Funding

The work was financially supported by the Internal Grant Agency of the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno (grant no. 224/2020/FVHE).

References

46 live references