Frequency and seasonality of viable Helicobacter pylori in drinking water in Dhamar Governorate, Yemen

Helicobacter pylori is an important and common bacterial pathogen in humans. The accumulated evidence of H. pylori's existence in water from different environmental sources suggests a water-borne transmission route. This study aimed at investigating the occurrence of H. pylori in different water sources used by human populations in Dhamar Governorate, Yemen. 250 samples were randomly collected from the municipal water supply network, wells, and springs. The samples were processed, plated onto modified campy-blood agar, and incubated under microaerobic conditions for 4-10 days. Bacterial identification was based on morphological properties and biochemical tests. Bacteriological analysis showed that 9.6% and 13.2% of tap and surface water samples were contaminated with H. pylori, respectively. Despite a higher frequency in samples from rural areas, these were not significantly (p=0.068) more contaminated than the samples from urban areas. Regarding the seasonal variations of H. pylori detection, 85.71% of positive samples were detected in the late winter and spring seasons (February to May). To conclude, H. pylori transmission through water is likely to occur in Dhamar Governorate. Further prospective studies are highly recommended to provide further evidence and a clearer picture of H. pylori transmission.