title: A mixed population of Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter bizzozeronii and "Helicobacter heilmannii" in the gastric mucosa of a domestic cat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of Helicobacter within the gastric mucosa is responsible for producing pathology in many animal species, including man. Since humans have been shown to harbour many of the same bacterial species as domestic carnivores, concern over their zoonotic potential has been growing. Helicobacter pylori, a class 1 carcinogen responsible for cases of gastritis and gastric cancer in humans, produces similar pathology in pet carnivores and is considered an example of anthroponosis. The case here presented refers to a 13 year-old mixed breed spayed female cat seen at necropsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stomach samples were analysed for the presence of Helicobacter spp. by cytology, histopathology and PCR. Mild mucosal atrophy was observed in the fundus and antrum, while lymphoplasmocytic infiltrates where noted in the lamina propria of the antrum. Helicobacter-like organisms were observed in the corpus and antrum, occupying gastric glands and surface mucosa. It was possible to detect Helicobacter spp., H. pylori, H. heilmannii and H. bizzozeronii in the fundus, corpus and antrum by PCR, while in the antrum PCR samples were positive for H. pylori.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The spayed female under study could represent either a yet un-described population of domestic cats infected with H. pylori or a case of anthroponosis.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, CIISA, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477 Portugal.
authors.forename: Rute
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Canejo-Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, CIISA, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477 Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, CIISA, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477 Portugal.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pissarra
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, CIISA, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477 Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Manuela Manuela E E
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Niza
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, CIISA, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477 Portugal.
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Vilela
keywords: Feline; Gastritis; Helicobacter; Histopathology; PCR; Zoonosis