Helicobacter felis infection causes an acute iron deficiency in nonpregnant and pregnant mice

Abstract

Background: The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in iron deficiency during pregnancy is limited. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between Helicobacter infection and levels of iron stores in pregnant mice. Materials and Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were either inoculated with 108 H. pylori, Helicobacter felis or water. In the nonpregnant study, 15 mice from each group were sacrificed after 4 and 20 weeks of infection. In the pregnancy study, after 6 weeks of infection all female mice were mated and approximately 2 weeks after mating, half of the pregnant mice (n = 9/group) from each group were sacrificed. The remaining mice were allowed to give birth, and approximately 4 weeks after birth, mice were asphyxiated with CO2, followed by heart puncture, and killed by cervical dislocation. Serum ferritin and iron were determined with a micro-particle enzyme immunoassay method and by a timed-endpoint method. Results: Serum iron levels in mice infected with H. felis were significantly (p