title: Low occurrence of Helicobacter DNA in tropical wild birds, Venezuela.
abstract: Enteric Helicobacter species (Helicobacter pullorum, Helicobacter pametensis, Helicobacter canadensis, Helicobacter anseris, and Helicobacter brantae) have been found in birds from temperate latitudes. We evaluated the occurrence of Helicobacter spp. in terrestrial wild birds from Venezuela. A fragment of 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR with Helicobacter genus-specific primers. Helicobacter spp. were detected in four of 80 fecal and in three of 42 intestinal tissue samples. Analyses of 16S and 23S rRNA gene sequences confirm for the first time the presence of Helicobacter in tropical terrestrial wild birds. However, the occurrence of Helicobacter was low, suggesting these bacteria may be uncommon in the populations we studied.
authors: 1  Laboratorio de Fisiología Gastrointestinal, Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Km 11 Carretera Panamericana, Altos de Pipe, Miranda, Venezuela.
authors: María Alexandra
authors: MA
authors: García-Amado
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: Sanz
authors: Leoncia Margarita
authors: LM
authors: Martinez
authors: Mónica
authors: M
authors: Contreras
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Lentino
authors: Fabian
authors: F
authors: Michelangeli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D001717:Birds; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010802:Phylogeny; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology