Helicobacter pylori in animals affecting the human habitat through the food chain.
Abstract: Helicobacter pylori (HP) is the causative agent of many gastrointestinal diseases. Horses, calves, pigs, rabbits, and chickens were evaluated for HP presence, and the pathogenetic effect on their gastric mucosa. The large-sized animals all resulted positive. No positive cases were observed in rabbits and chickens. Chronic inflammatory response to the infection with the development of acquired lymphoid tissue associated to the mucosa was revealed. The recognition of HP in animals living near the human habitat such as animals for slaughter and for technical zootechnic and alimentary use, before the witnessing of the transmission of this infection such as a zoonosis or an anthropozoonosis, can contribute to research on a common source for human and animals as reservoir. It is possible to consider that the intraspecies transmission of infection occurs by vomit, the mucus acting as a vector, while the interspecies one is due to the faecal contamination of the food chain.
Publication Date: 2000-01-11 PubMed ID: 10628327
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study investigates the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (HP), which causes numerous gastrointestinal diseases, in various animals and its potential for transmission to humans through the food chain.
Overview of the Research
- The research specifically explores the occurrence of HP, a bacterium closely associated with many stomach-related disorders, in several animals including horses, calves, pigs, rabbits, and chickens. The focus on these animals is due to their proximity to human habitats and their use in food production or technical zoo-technic purposes.
- By examining these animals for the presence of HP, the researchers are interested in understanding the possible shared source of HP between humans and animals, bringing into consideration the concept of zoonosis or anthropozoonosis, which is the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans or vice versa.
Findings
- The larger animals, namely horses, calves, and pigs, all tested positive for HP. This insight implies that these animals could potentially serve as reservoirs for this pathogen.
- None of the rabbits and chickens in the study were found to carry HP. This could suggest that these animals do not contribute to the transmission of the pathogen to humans through the food chain.
- In animals that tested positive for HP, a chronic inflammatory response was observed, characterized by the development of acquired lymphoid tissue associated with the mucosa. This finding indicates that HP infection can stimulate an immune response in these animals, potentially opening up avenues to better understand the pathological effects of this bacterium.
Transmission Mechanisms
- The study mentions that intraspecies transmission of the infection could potentially occur through vomit, with mucus serving as the vector.
- The researchers also propose that interspecies transmission, particularly relevant for human infections, could be due to the faecal contamination of the food chain.
- Understanding these potential transmission pathways can inform strategies to control and prevent the spread of HP, not only among these animals but importantly, to humans.
Implications
- The study provides valuable insights into the presence of HP in animals that are closely associated with humans, either through their habitats or as part of the food chain.
- The findings could assist in further research to determine a common source of HP, which in turn could aid in identifying the key drivers of its transmission, potentially helping to develop more effective preventative and control strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Dimola S, Caruso ML.
(2000).
Helicobacter pylori in animals affecting the human habitat through the food chain.
Anticancer Res, 19(5B), 3889-3894.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary, ASL BA5, Monopoli, BA, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cattle
- Disease Reservoirs
- Food Chain
- Food Microbiology
- Gastric Mucosa / microbiology
- Gastric Mucosa / pathology
- Helicobacter Infections / transmission
- Helicobacter Infections / veterinary
- Helicobacter pylori / isolation & purification
- Helicobacter pylori / pathogenicity
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Rabbits
- Swine
- Swine Diseases / microbiology
- Zoonoses / transmission
Citations
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- Baj J, Forma A, Flieger W, Morawska I, Michalski A, Buszewicz G, Sitarz E, Portincasa P, Garruti G, Flieger M, Teresiński G. Helicobacter pylori Infection and Extragastric Diseases-A Focus on the Central Nervous System. Cells 2021 Aug 25;10(9).
- Ranjbar R, Chehelgerdi M. Genotyping and antibiotic resistance properties of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from human and animal gastric biopsies. Infect Drug Resist 2018;11:2545-2554.
- Elhariri M, Hamza D, Elhelw R, Hamza E. Occurrence of cagA(+) vacA s1a m1 i1 Helicobacter pylori in farm animals in Egypt and ability to survive in experimentally contaminated UHT milk. Sci Rep 2018 Sep 24;8(1):14260.
- Quaglia NC, Dambrosio A. Helicobacter pylori: A foodborne pathogen?. World J Gastroenterol 2018 Aug 21;24(31):3472-3487.
- Willeke P, Schlüter B, Sauerland C, Becker H, Reuter S, Jacobi A, Schotte H. Farm Exposure as a Differential Risk Factor in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis. PLoS One 2015;10(9):e0137196.
- Perkins GA, den Bakker HC, Burton AJ, Erb HN, McDonough SP, McDonough PL, Parker J, Rosenthal RL, Wiedmann M, Dowd SE, Simpson KW. Equine stomachs harbor an abundant and diverse mucosal microbiota. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012 Apr;78(8):2522-32.
- Husted L, Jensen TK, Olsen SN, Mølbak L. Examination of equine glandular stomach lesions for bacteria, including Helicobacter spp by fluorescence in situ hybridisation. BMC Microbiol 2010 Mar 19;10:84.
- Mukhopadhyay AK, Kersulyte D, Jeong JY, Datta S, Ito Y, Chowdhury A, Chowdhury S, Santra A, Bhattacharya SK, Azuma T, Nair GB, Berg DE. Distinctiveness of genotypes of Helicobacter pylori in Calcutta, India. J Bacteriol 2000 Jun;182(11):3219-27.
- Schuppler M. On the Role of Food in the Transmission of Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Narrative Review. Foods 2025 Dec 15;14(24).
- Scholz KJ, Höhne A, Wittmer A, Häcker G, Hellwig E, Cieplik F, Waidner B, Al-Ahmad A. Co-culture of Helicobacter pylori with oral microorganisms in human saliva. Clin Oral Investig 2025 Jan 24;29(1):79.
- Tyrnenopoulou P, Tsilipounidaki K, Florou Z, Gkountinoudis CG, Tyropoli K, Starras A, Peleki C, Marneris D, Arseniou N, Lianou DT, Katsarou EI, Petinaki E, Fthenakis GC. Detection of Gastrointestinal Pathogens with Zoonotic Potential in Horses Used in Free-Riding Activities during a Countrywide Study in Greece. Animals (Basel) 2024 Sep 3;14(17).
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