What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to detect Helicobacter pylori in saliva and evaluate its association with periodontitis and gastritis in Sri Lankan adults.

April 26, 2026BMC Oral Health0 citationsOpen Access

Molecular detection of Helicobacter pylori in saliva of Sri Lankan adults with periodontitis, gastritis or both conditions

MSManeesha Thathsarani SomarathnaUniversity of Peradeniya DBDhanushka Leuke BandaraUniversity of Peradeniya SGSadaham Kaushika Viduthpriya GunasekareUniversity of Peradeniya

Key Points

This study aims to detect Helicobacter pylori in saliva and evaluate its association with periodontitis and gastritis in Sri Lankan adults.
Cross-sectional study design involving 214 adults from Sri Lanka
Participants categorized into four groups: periodontitis, gastritis, both conditions, and healthy controls
DNA extracted from saliva samples, and H. pylori detected using PCR targeting 16S rRNA gene.
H. pylori detected in 20.6% of participants (44 of 214), with the highest rate (31.3%) in participants with both conditions (OR 3.71, 95% CI 1.31–10.55)
Statistical significance not achieved post-Holm correction (adjusted p = 0.084)
No significant associations found with age or sex (p > 0.05).

Abstract

Periodontitis is an immuno-inflammatory disease affecting the tooth-supporting structures, primarily caused by dysbiosis of the oral microbiome. The involvement of one of the gastric pathogens, Helicobacter pylori, has been reported among individuals with periodontitis. However, the evidence regarding the association between oral H. pylori, periodontitis, and gastritis remains inconsistent and has not been investigated in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study aimed to detect the oral H. pylori in a cohort of Sri Lankan adults and to evaluate its association with periodontitis and gastritis. This cross-sectional study recruited 214 adults from two tertiary care institutes in Sri Lanka. Participants were categorized into four groups: (A) periodontitis only (n = 60), (B) gastritis only (n = 51), (C) both periodontitis and gastritis (n = 48), and (D) healthy controls without periodontitis or gastritis (n = 55). Unstimulated saliva samples were collected, DNA was extracted, and H. pylori was detected using PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Positive samples were confirmed by ureA gene amplification. Detection rates were compared using Fisher’s exact test with Holm correction for multiple comparisons (p 0.05). H. pylori DNA is detectable in the saliva of Sri Lankan adults, with the highest detection rate observed in individuals with both periodontitis and gastritis (31.3%). This clinically relevant trend suggests that the inflamed periodontium may provide a favorable niche for the pathogen, although larger studies are needed to confirm statistical significance. This study represents the first investigation in Sri Lanka to identify the oral cavity as a potential extragastric niche for H. pylori using salivary detection. However, PCR-based detection cannot distinguish viable colonization from transient contamination. Longitudinal studies with culture-based methods and viability testing are required to clarify whether the oral cavity serves as an active reservoir for H. pylori transmission and reinfection.

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