Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Detection of Helicobacter spp. in the saliva of dogs with gastritis.
- Journal:
- Polish journal of veterinary sciences
- Year:
- 2016
- Authors:
- Jankowski, M et al.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at the presence of Helicobacter bacteria, which can cause stomach issues, in the saliva of dogs diagnosed with gastritis, a condition that causes inflammation of the stomach lining. Researchers tested 30 dogs of various breeds, ages, and sexes, and found that 23 of them, or about 77%, had these bacteria in their saliva. The most common type found was Helicobacter heilmannii, detected in 22 of the dogs. The findings suggest that dogs with gastritis often carry these bacteria in their saliva, which could potentially pose a risk of infection to humans and other animals. However, more research is needed to understand the implications, as the testing method used cannot tell if the infections are active or not.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify the species and determine the prevalence of gastric Helicobacter in the saliva of dogs with gastritis. The study was carried out on 30 dogs of different breeds, genders and ages, which were diagnosed with gastritis. The nested-PCR method was used to detect Helicobacter spp. in saliva. Helicobacter bacteria were found in the saliva samples of 23 (76.6%) dogs. Helicobacter heilmannii was the most commonly detected species of gastric Helicobacter spp. in canine saliva, and was found in 22 (73.3%) cases. The results indicate that gastric Helicobacter spp. occurs relatively frequently in dogs with gastritis. Moreover, the saliva of dogs with gastritis may be a source of Helicobacter spp. infection for humans and other animals. However, further studies are needed to confirm this finding as the PCR method does not distinguish active from inactive infections.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27096797/