CAMPYLOBACTER AND HELICOBACTER-RELATED DISEASES AND THEIR LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
Keywords:
Campylobacter, Helicobacter pylori, gastrointestinal infection, gastritis, laboratory diagnosis, microbiology, bacterial pathogens, molecular diagnostics.Abstract
Campylobacter and Helicobacter species occupy an important place among medically significant Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacteria that cause gastrointestinal and extraintestinal diseases in humans. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are among the leading bacterial agents of acute gastroenteritis, while Helicobacter pylori is strongly associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric cancer risk. The clinical significance of these pathogens is determined not only by their frequency, but also by diagnostic complexity, variable clinical manifestations, antimicrobial resistance, and the need for timely laboratory confirmation. This article examines the diseases caused by Campylobacter and Helicobacter species and analyzes the main approaches to their laboratory diagnosis in medical practice. Special attention is paid to bacteriological culture, microscopy, biochemical identification, immunological assays, molecular methods, and non-invasive diagnostic techniques. The study emphasizes that effective diagnosis depends on proper specimen collection, transport conditions, selection of appropriate laboratory methods, and interpretation of results in connection with clinical findings. In the context of medical education, understanding these pathogens is essential for developing professional competence in microbiology, infectious diseases, gastroenterology, and laboratory diagnostics.
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