**Chapter 7 129**

*Helicobacter pylori* Seromarkers in a University Students Population in Central Nigeria *by Victor B. Oti, Isa H. Mohammed, Fatima Y. Al-Mustapha and Salamatu B. Buhari*

Preface

Despite novel human pathogens emerging worldwide, such as COVID-19, which is responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) development, *Helicobacter pylori* remains one of the principal human infections. *H. pylori* is a condition with a relative risk of developing various clinical disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma), and gastric adenocarcinoma.

The infection has also been associated with the development of some extradigestive diseases, such as hepatobiliary, cardiovascular and pancreatic diseases, and iron

All individuals with *H. pylori* infection have histological gastritis, which corresponds to classical chronic gastritis and is characterized by the infiltration of neutrophils and other inflammatory cells. However, most patients are asymptomatic for life, while only some will come to develop a digestive disease. Studies have been demonstrating that different disease developments are probably due to the bacterial pathogenicity and due to the host susceptibility factors that include the role of bacterial genetic diversity in host colonization and persistence, outer membrane proteins, and modulation of adhesin expression and virulence factors (VacA, CagA, and BabA,

The routes of transmission of *H. pylori* are not completely clarified, but infection is usually acquired during childhood and is characterized as being chronic, with greater prevalence in developing countries in all ages. Guides for the management of *H. pylori* have been developed in various countries in order to identify which cases are indicated to eradicate the bacterium. Therefore, various guidelines for the management of *H. pylori* infection are available. Nevertheless, there are discussions concerning the eradication treatment in asymptomatic individuals that receive a

Various aspects of this important microorganism are explored in this book, which is divided into two sections: the first one "*Helicobacter pylori* - A Very Old Human Microorganism" with two chapters and the second one, with chapters concerning

Dr. Maldonado describes the bacterium in important aspects, considering that the interaction of the strain's characteristics, the host's characteristics, and the environment is responsible for several diseases that can be developed due to this infection,

Prof. Cheng An-Lii attempts to provide evidence that early-stage gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with (DLBCL[MALT]) and without ("pure" DLBCL) histological

Dr. Zhenguo reports and discusses the relationship between *H. pylori* infection and extradigestive diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, like hypertension, and

the diseases associated with *H. pylori* infection and their new approaches.

positive diagnosis for *H. pylori* in routine examinations.

which affects more than half of the world population.

features of MALT origin is closely related to *H. pylori* infection.

deficiency anemia, among others.

among others).
