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Helicobacter genus in the intestine and liver of stray cats: the molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical study

  • Veterinary Microbiology - Research Paper
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objectives

The study was designed to determine the presence of Helicobacter genus and three species of H. pylori, H. bilis, and H. canis, in the duodenum, ileum, colon, and liver of stray cats. Moreover, the histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses have been performed.

Methods

Samples were taken from the duodenum, ileum, colon, and liver of 30 cats for molecular and histopathological evaluations. Polymerase chain reaction was carried out for the detection of the Helicobacter genus in the mentioned samples. Then, species-specific primers were used in Helicobacter-positive samples.

Results

Helicobacter genus prevalence rates in the duodenum, ileum, colon, and liver samples were 50%, 60%, 50%, and 43.3%, respectively. Helicobacter pylori, H. canis, and H. bilis were isolated from at least one tissue of 18 (60%), 13 (43.3%), and 8 (26.7%) of the cats, respectively. Immunohistochemical findings confirmed the presence of bacteria in the intestinal crypt or the mucosal layer of duodenum, ileum, colon, and hepatic sinusoids.

Conclusion

In the present study, the concurrent infection of duodenum and liver was noticeable. Furthermore, the high prevalence of H. pylori in cats, as a well-known human pathogen, should be considered. High incidence of Helicobacter in gut and liver of Ahvaz stray cats is noticeable. According to the zoonotic importance of Helicobacter, more studies in the field of treatment and prevention are highly recommended.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the research council of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz for their financial support. Also, the authors thank technicians Miss and Mr. Behdarvand in the pathology laboratory for their technical assistance in Pathology Lab, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.

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Funding

The research was supported by research council of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduated in the doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

    Boshra Elyasi

  2. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Golestan Bulvar, Ahvaz, Iran

    Annahita Rezaie & Naghmeh Moori Bakhtiari

  3. Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

    Bahman Mosallanejad

Authors
  1. Boshra Elyasi
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  2. Annahita Rezaie
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  3. Naghmeh Moori Bakhtiari
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  4. Bahman Mosallanejad
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Contributions

BE performed the sampling, PCR, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. AR designed and performed histopathology, immunohistochemistry, interpreted the data. NMB conducted PCR techniques. BMN checked the animals in the small animal department and, after ensuring and deciding for euthanasia, collected the samples. SKD and AR wrote the manuscript, and all authors critically revised it.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annahita Rezaie.

Ethics declarations

This study has been approved by the laboratory animal ethics framework of Shahid Chamran University Research Council.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Responsible Editor: Miliane Moreira Soares de Souza.

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Elyasi, B., Rezaie, A., Moori Bakhtiari, N. et al. Helicobacter genus in the intestine and liver of stray cats: the molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical study. Braz J Microbiol 51, 2123–2132 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-020-00359-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-020-00359-1

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