Effect of dilution factor on the isolation of Helicobacter pylori from municipal wastewater using culture technique

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Isolating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) from wastewater and culturing it using a conventional method has always been a controversial issue because the bacterium converts into a coccoid form when exposed to an unfavourable environment like wastewater. To clarify the cultivability behaviour of the bacterium in fresh wastewater samples, the effect of municipal wastewater dilation on the cultivation of the bacterium using a conventional method was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Several dilutions of wastewater samples were inoculated with fresh H. pylori suspension (with McFarland’s dilution 0.5) to examine the dilution effect of wastewater on the bacterium isolation. RESULTS: The H. pylori growth was found to be possible for a dilution factor from 1/10(6) to 1/10(7) of raw wastewater. In higher dilution factors the growth of fungi was dominant and could prevent the isolation of the bacterium. CONCLUSION: The optimized technique could be applied in future studies for increasing the chance of H. pylori isolation from fresh wastewater environments.