{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T18:40:38Z","timestamp":1792089638439,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,17]],"date-time":"2025-07-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752710400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia, I.P.","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UIDB\/05937\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/05937\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia, I.P.","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UIDP\/05937\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/05937\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Microorganisms"],"abstract":"<jats:p>H. pylori infects over half of the global population and is associated with various gastric and extra-gastric diseases. Other species, such as zoonotic non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacters (NHPHs), have shown similar associations with gastritis and MALT lymphoma and H. pylori-negative cases with gastric disease have been identified, including gastric MALT lymphoma, chronic gastritis, and gastroduodenal ulcers. Accurate identification of these species is of great relevance but remains challenging using conventional diagnostic methods. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori and NHPH infections, comparing standard histological protocols with molecular techniques. Between December 2024 and February 2025, 54 adult patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) with gastric biopsy in three hospitals in Algarve, Portugal were recruited. Endoscopic assessment was performed, and gastric biopsies were collected for histological and molecular analysis. DNA was extracted from antral biopsies and analyzed by conventional PCR to detect H. pylori and NHPH. H. pylori diagnostic techniques were compared, descriptive plus statistical analysis was performed, and p-values &lt; 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Fifty-four patients were included in the study, with 51.9% of them presenting symptoms. Endoscopic gastritis was observed in 66.7% of patients, while histological gastritis was present in 88.9%, with statistically significant differences between the two diagnostic techniques (p = 0.004). Helicobacter spp. were identified in 44.4% (24\/54) of the patients. H. pylori was detected in 42.6% of the patients by Modified Giemsa stain and in 33.3% by PCR. H. bizzozeronii was found in 35.9% of the patients, with 22.2% showing mixed infections. This study reveals a significant prevalence of Helicobacter spp. in patients from the Algarve region, with both H. pylori and zoonotic H. bizzozeronii detected. This is the first report of H. bizzozeronii DNA detection in gastric biopsies via PCR from patients undergoing UGE in Portugal, highlighting the need to consider NHPH in clinical diagnosis. It is important to include molecular methods in routine diagnostics and the need for broader studies to assess regional and national trends in Helicobacter infections besides H. pylori.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms13071684","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,17]],"date-time":"2025-07-17T13:00:51Z","timestamp":1752757251000},"page":"1684","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Prevalence and Diagnostic Comparison of Helicobacter pylori and Non-Helicobacter pylori\u00a0Helicobacter Infections in Patients Undergoing Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy with Gastric Biopsy in Algarve, Portugal"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6638-9782","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francisco","family":"Cortez Nunes","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1236-3012","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Teresa Letra","family":"Mateus","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CISAS\u2014Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Escola Superior Agr\u00e1ria, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-367 Viana do Castelo, Portugal"},{"name":"EpiUnit ITR, Instituto de Sa\u00fade P\u00fablica, Universidade do Porto, 4050-091 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Universidade de Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-6028-9985","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Catarina","family":"Aguieiras","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Servi\u00e7o de Gastroenterologia, Unidade Local de Sa\u00fade do Algarve\u2014Hospital de Faro, 8000-386 Faro, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ricardo","family":"Louro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital Particular do Algarve\u2014Unidade de Alvor, 8500-322 Portim\u00e3o, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bruno","family":"Peixe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Servi\u00e7o de Gastroenterologia, Unidade Local de Sa\u00fade do Algarve\u2014Hospital de Faro, 8000-386 Faro, Portugal"},{"name":"Hospital Particular do Algarve\u2014Unidade de Alvor, 8500-322 Portim\u00e3o, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mauro","family":"Calhindro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Servi\u00e7o de Medicina Interna, Unidade Local de Sa\u00fade do Algarve\u2014Hospital de Portim\u00e3o, 8500-338 Portim\u00e3o, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patr\u00edcia","family":"Queir\u00f3s","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal"},{"name":"Hospital Particular do Algarve\u2014Unidade de Alvor, 8500-322 Portim\u00e3o, Portugal"},{"name":"Servi\u00e7o de Gastroenterologia, Unidade Local de Sa\u00fade do Algarve\u2014Hospital de Portim\u00e3o, 8500-338 Portim\u00e3o, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3453-3978","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pedro","family":"Castelo-Branco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal"},{"name":"Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC Ri), University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5607","DOI":"10.1099\/ijsem.0.004332","article-title":"List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN) moves to the DSMZ","volume":"70","author":"Parte","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. 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