S100A8 and stomach disorder: In this study, we report on the prevalence of H. pylori infection in the south of Morocco, assess the genetic diversity of eight virulence genes, and investigate, for the first time in North Africa, the association of this relatively large number of virulence genes (cagA, cagE, virB11, vacA, dupA, oipA, babA, and iceA) and demographic factors with the severity of gastric disease.