title: Identification of novel Helicobacter spp. from a beluga whale.
abstract: The gastric fluid and feces of three belugas from the Mystic Aquarium were assessed for the presence of Helicobacter spp. Gastric fluid and feces from the two clinically healthy belugas were negative for helicobacter, and endoscopy performed on these animals revealed no lesions. However, a helicobacter isolate and PCR product similar to helicobacter strains previously recovered from dolphins were identified, respectively, from the feces and gastric fluid of a beluga manifesting intermittent inappetence and lethargy. Esophageal and forestomach ulcers were noted on endoscopy. This is the first report of novel Helicobacter spp. being identified from whales.
authors.affiliation: Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Claudia M G
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Shilu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: J Lawrence
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Nancy S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Floyd E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Dewhirst
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013276:Stomach Ulcer; D014907:Whales / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S