Carbon-14-urea breath test as a noninvasive method to monitor Helicobacter felis colonization in mice.
We have developed a 14C-urea breath test to follow the course of Helicobacter felis infection in mice. Peak 14CO2 production occurred approximately 8 min after substrate administration. The test values were compared to those from a rapid urease test and correlated with the presence of pathogens by histology. The sensitivity was 99%, specificity 91%, positive predictive value 95% and negative predictive value 99% when the assay was conducted in fasted mice. We conclude that in mice the breath test analysis is a useful noninvasive method for detecting the presence of H. felis or for evaluating therapeutic agents affecting growth or survival of the organism.
Glauser
M
M
Department of Gastroenterology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Michetti
P
P
Blum
A L
AL
Corthésy-Theulaz
I
I
D000818:Animals; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005260:Female; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014508:Urea
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D014508:Urea