Detection of non-pylori Helicobacter species in "Helicobacter heilmannii"-infected humans.
BACKGROUND
A small proportion of patients suffering from chronic active gastritis are diagnosed with gastric Helicobacter species other than Helicobacter pylori. Circumstantial evidence has suggested that these bacteria, also referred to as "Helicobacter heilmannii"-like organisms (HHLO), may be transmitted through animals. The isolation of a Helicobacter bizzozeronii strain from a human patient confirmed this hypothesis. It was the aim of the present study to assess the presence of animal Helicobacter species and H. pylori in humans infected with HHLO, as diagnosed by histology.


METHODS
Paraffin-embedded gastric biopsy specimens of 108 HHLO-infected patients (42 women and 66 men) from three clinical centers were screened for the presence of animal gastric Helicobacter species by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using assays targeting the 16S rDNA region of the three known canine and feline helicobacters (H. bizzozeronii, H. salomonis and H. felis), "Candidatus H. suis", and "Candidatus H. bovis". In addition, the presence of H. pylori was evaluated by multiplex PCR analysis.


RESULTS
In 63.4% of the stomachs (64/101) classification of the Helicobacter infection into the above mentioned groups was achieved. Non-pylori Helicobacter species commonly colonizing the stomachs of cats and dogs were found in 48.5% (49/101) of the patients. Fourteen (13.9%) samples tested positive for "Candidatus H. suis", and "Candidatus H. bovis" was demonstrated in 1 (0.9%) patient. The presence of H. pylori was established in 13 patients (12.9%). Eleven stomachs (10.9%) were infected with at least two different Helicobacter species.


CONCLUSIONS
This study identifies animal Helicobacter species in the stomach of a large series of HHLO-infected patients, which may have clinical implications in a subset of patients with gastric disease.
De Groote
Dominic
D
Technology Transfer Office, Ghent University, Lammerstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Van Doorn
Leen-Jan
LJ
Van den Bulck
Kathleen
K
Vandamme
Peter
P
Vieth
Michael
M
Stolte
Manfred
M
Debongnie
Jean-Claude
JC
Burette
Alain
A
Haesebrouck
Freddy
F
Ducatelle
Richard
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology*; D001706:Biopsy; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000662:veterinary; D018247:Helicobacter heilmannii / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial