Environmental Exposures, Helicobacter pylori Infection and Gastritis in Canadian Arctic Communities

• Author / Creator

  Hastings, Emily V

• The role of environmental exposures in the acquisition of H.pylori and related disease is not yet understood. This analysis examined two hypotheses regarding how environmental exposures may affect digestive health in northern Canada. First, environmental sources of biological contamination may facilitate transmission of H.pylori. Second, exposure to environmental sources of chemical contamination may influence the development of severe gastritis.
  Data from three northern Canadian communities were used to examine relationships between environmental exposures and digestive health. Using logistic regression, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for the effect of investigated exposures on prevalence of H.pylori and severe gastritis.
  Findings showed a positive association between exposure to mice and prevalent H.pylori infection. Other zoonotic and waterborne exposures did not appear associated with this infection in the study populations. This analysis also provided evidence of a possible link between untreated water consumption and prevalence of severe gastritis.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Gastritis
  • Helicobacter pylori
  • Transmission
  • Environmental Exposures

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3J05Q

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.