Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Exploring the role of healthy dogs as hosts of enterohepatic Helicobacter species using cultivation-dependent and -independent approaches.
- Journal:
- Zoonoses and public health
- Year:
- 2021
- Authors:
- Ochoa, Sofía et al.
- Affiliation:
- Institute of Biochemistry and Microbiology
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at a type of bacteria called enterohepatic Helicobacter (EHH) that has been linked to stomach and liver problems in people. Researchers tested 390 stool samples from healthy dogs in Chile to see if these bacteria were present. They found that about 15% of the samples contained EHH, with the most common types being H. canis and H. canicola. Additionally, they discovered that nearly all of a smaller group of samples had Helicobacter DNA, and they also identified other bacteria related to Campylobacter. The findings suggest that healthy dogs often carry these bacteria, but more research is needed to understand if and how they might be passed to humans.
Abstract
Enterohepatic Helicobacter (EHH) species have been increasingly associated with acute gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease and hepatobiliary diseases in humans. However, their host range and transmission routes are poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the presence of EHH in healthy dogs using both cultivation-dependent and -independent methods. Three hundred and ninety faecal samples from domestic dogs without gastrointestinal symptoms were analysed between June 2018 and July 2019 in Valdivia (South of Chile). Samples were inoculated on selective medium and in parallel were filtrated over an antibiotic-free blood agar. Both media were incubated in a microaerobic atmosphere at 37°C for 7 days. Colonies were identified by PCR and phylogenetic analysis. A subset of 50 samples (half of them positive for EHH by cultivation and the remaining half negative) was analysed by PCR-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) for direct detection. Cultivation method detected EHH in 15.4% (60/390) of the samples, being the most prevalent species H. canis (5.8%, 23/390) and H. canicola (5.1%, 20/390), followed by H. bilis (3.6%, 14/390) and 'H. winghamensis' (1.3%, 5/390). In contrast, PCR-DGGE method detected Helicobacter DNA in almost all (96%, 48/50) tested samples. On the other hand, the method used also allowed to isolate other Campylobacterales, in fact 44.3% (173/390) of the samples were positive for Campylobacter upsaliensis (43.3%, 169/390) followed by C. jejuni (2.0%, 8/390). Moreover, two strains that presented Campylobacter-like morphology were finally identified as Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens. Our results indicate that healthy domestic dogs commonly carry EHH and other Campylobacter species. However, further studies are needed to determine whether and how these Helicobacter and Campylobacter species can be transmitted to humans.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33586362/