Helicobacter
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Overview
Helicobacter spp. are related to Campylobacter species and Arcobacter species and are pathogens affecting the stomach and intestines. There are several species identified in humans and many veterinary species where the incidence of some species of Helicobacter is high. The genus is considered of low pathogenic significance in veterinary species but there is possibility of zoonosis of the H. pylori species that is the causitve agent of gastric disease in humans.
- A bacterial pathogen of the intestines
- Discovered in the stomach of humans in 1987
- H. felis, H. bizzozeronii, H. salomonis and H. bilis found in gastric mucosa and intestines of dogs and cats
Characteristics
Helicobacter are gram negative rod bacteria, they can appear helical, S-shaped or curved.
- Helical, S-shaped or curved Gram negative rods
- Require enriched media; some grow on Skirrow agar
- Microaerophilic, non-saccharolytic
- Oxidase positive and catalase positive except for H. canis
- Helicobacters which colonise gastric mucosa are urease positive
Clinical infections
- Helicobacter pylori causes gastritis and duodenal and gastric ulcers in humans
- Association with gastric adenocarcinoma in humans
- H. mustelae has been associated with chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers in ferrets
- Significance in gastrointestinal diseases of domestic carnivores not known
- Carried in the stomach of a high proportion of people.
- 60% in the elderly.
- Implicated in the development of peptic ulcers and gastritis in people.
- Strong epidemiological evidence for the involvement of H. pylori in human gastric neoplasia.
- No evidence this is the case for animals.
- Several species demonstrated in dogs: H. felis, H. bizzozeronii, H. salomonis and H. bilis.
- Present in around 80% of clinically healthy pet dogs.
- Up to 100% in dogs from animal shelters.
- Present in around 80% of clinically healthy pet dogs.
- Experimental infection of dogs has failed to show a consistent relationship between infection with Helicobacter and pathology.
- Inflammation accompanies infection in some but not all infected dogs.