Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Presence of potentially novel Helicobacter pylori-like organisms in gastric samples from cats and dogs.
- Journal:
- Veterinary research
- Year:
- 2023
- Authors:
- Taillieu, Emily et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Pathobiology
Plain-English summary
This study looked at the stomach samples from 20 cats and 27 dogs to see if they were infected with certain types of bacteria related to Helicobacter pylori, which is known to cause stomach issues in humans. The researchers used various tests to check for these bacteria and found that about 83% of the animals had some form of these bacteria in their stomachs. They also discovered that nearly half of the samples showed signs of H. pylori or similar bacteria, but the tests were not conclusive enough to determine how harmful these bacteria might be. Overall, the findings suggest that cats and dogs can carry these bacteria, but they may not be causing significant health problems.
Abstract
While seven gastric non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacter (NHPH) species are known to commonly colonize the stomach of cats and dogs, the potential of H. pylori and H. pylori-like organisms to infect animals remains controversial and was investigated in this study using gastric samples of 20 cats and 27 dogs. A Helicobacter genus-specific 16 S rRNA PCR assay, H. pylori-specific ureAB and glmM PCR assays and a nested PCR detecting 23 S rRNA in a Helicobacter genus-specific manner in a first round of PCR and a H. pylori-specific manner in a second round, were performed in combination with sequencing. Histopathological and anti-Helicobacter immunohistochemical evaluations were also performed. Based on 16 S rRNA sequence analysis, 39/47 animals (83%) appeared infected with canine/feline gastric NHPHs in the corpus and/or antrum. H. pylori-specific ureAB amplicons were obtained in samples of 22 stomachs (47%). One canine antrum sample positive in the ureAB assay was also positive in the H. pylori-specific glmM assay. While 36/47 (77%) animals had a positive sample in the first round of the nested 23 S rRNA PCR assay, all samples were negative in the second round. Sequence analysis of obtained amplicons and immunohistochemistry point towards the presence of unidentified H. pylori-like organisms in cats and dogs. Histopathological examination suggests a low pathogenic significance of the gastric Helicobacter spp. present in these animals. In conclusion, cats and dogs may be (co-)infected with gastric Helicobacter organisms other than the known gastric NHPHs. Culture and isolation should be performed to confirm this hypothesis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37849010/