Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Is Helicobacter pylori in pets a risk to humans?
By Shaaban, Sabah I et al.·Published in BMC veterinary research·2023·Department of Animal Hygiene and Zoonoses·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: An investigative study on the zoonotic potential of Helicobacter pylori.
Plain-English summary
Helicobacter pylori is a common bacteria that can cause stomach issues, but many infections don't show any symptoms. In a study, researchers collected stool samples from healthy farm and pet animals, including dogs and cats, as well as from humans. They found that about 22% of the animals tested positive for the bacteria, with the highest rates in cats and dogs. In contrast, a much higher percentage of human samples, nearly 75%, were positive for H. pylori. This suggests that pets and farm animals might be able to pass this bacteria to people, which is something to discuss with your veterinarian if you have concerns.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common bacterial infections and is widespread globally. It causes a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, though a great proportion of infections are asymptomatic. A total of 143 fresh stool samples were collected from apparently healthy farm and pet animals (43 cattle, 50 buffaloes, 50 sheep, 50 dogs, and 50 cats), in addition to 768 human stool samples. The samples were examined using stool antigen and rapid antibody tests, and further confirmation of glmM "human antigen-positive samples and animal milk samples" was conducted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The prevalence rates of H. pylori infection in animals were 22.2% and 16% in antibody and stool antigen tests, respectively. The detection rates were 28%, 24%, 12%, 10%, and 4.7% in cats, dogs, buffaloes, sheep, and cattle, respectively. On the other hand, the prevalence rate of H. pylori infection in human stool samples was 74.8%, and a statistically significant association was observed between prevalence and several factors, such as sex, age, and locality. PCR was performed to detect the glmM gene of H. pylori, and this gene was found in 21 of 27 human antigen-positive samples and 5 of 13 animal milk samples. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori was detected in both human and animal samples. Furthermore, glmM was found in milk and human samples. Our findings suggest that pet and farm animals could transmit H. pylori infection to humans.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36670434/