Human serum antibody response to Helicobacter pylori whole cell antigen in an institutionalized Bangladeshi population.

To use a commercial ELISA kit and an immunoblot assay to investigate the antibody levels of selected members of the Bangladeshi population to Helicobacter pylori protein antigens. Using immunoblotting, high seroprevalence rates were observed in all age groups, although the subjects within the 1-9 years age group had the highest seroprevalence of antibodies to H. pylori antigens. By ELISA, the highest level of seroprevalence was observed in those over the age of 20 years. On the basis of these results the overall prevalence rate of H. pylori infection for the whole population was 77.4%; 77.9% for orphan boys and 76% for carers. CagA antibodies were detected in 86% of those with high levels of antibodies to H. pylori antigens. A combination of immunoblotting and ELISA was the most efficient means of detecting serum antibodies to H. pylori antigens and could be applied to the screening of human sera for H. pylori-specific antibodies.