Serologic Evidence that Ascaris and Toxoplasma Infections Impact Inflammatory Responses to Helicobacter pylori in Colombians

Background—Helicobacter pylori infected children from coastal Tumaco, Colombia have more parasitism, and adults have lower gastric cancer risk compared to high altitude Pasto/Tuquerres residents. Because helminth and Toxoplasma gondii infections alter helicobacter gastritis in rodent models, we determined if seropositivity to Ascaris lumbricoides or T. gondii was associated with Th2-IgG1 or Th1-IgG2 responses to H. pylori. Methods—Sera (240) from the two populations were evaluated for A. lumbricoides and T. gondii seropositivity and results correlated with IgE and IgG isotype responses to H. pylori. Results—Most Tumaco children and adults were seropositive for A. lumbricoides (89%, 66%), T. gondii (59%, 98%) or both (45%, 66%). In contrast, seropositivity among Pasto/Tuquerres children was much lower (9% A. lumbricoides, 11% T. gondii and 2% dual positive) but increased in adults (58% A. lumbricoides, 82% T. gondii and 41% dual positive). A. lumbricoides seropositivity correlated with elevated IgE and anti-inflammatory Th2-IgG1 responses to H. pylori, while Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity was linked to elevated IgE, pro-inflammatory Th1IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 responses to H. pylori. Individuals with high T. gondii titers had reduced Th1-IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 responses to Helicobacter pylori.