Evidence of Helicobacter spp. in domestic cats from central Rio Grande do Sul State - pre-study

• Published in: Arquivo brasileiro de medicina veterinária e zootecnia 2024, Vol.76 (6)
• Main Authors: Pinto Filho, S.T.L., Galindo, V.R., Herculano, L.F.S., Cagnelutti, J.F., Mariga, C., Fighera, R.A., Mazaro, R.D., Dullius, A.I.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: bile; cats; liver; Non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacters; phylogenetics; VETERINARY SCIENCES
• ISSN: 0102-0935; 1678-4162; 1678-4162
• DOI: 10.1590/1678-4162-13187

ABSTRACT Non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacters(NHPH) account for causing moderate and severe gastritis in humans. Moreover, they have already been documented in the oral cavity of feline animals. The current study aims to investigate Helicobacter spp. incidence in necropsied domestic cats from central Rio Grande do Sul. Stomach, liver, and bile samples derived from 30 cats’ cadavers were subjected to rapid urease test (RUT), histopathological analysis, PCR, and nucleotide sequencing to investigate the genetic material presence and to identify the main phylogenetic group. Based on RUT results, 64.2% and 53.5% of patients were positive for gastric body and pyloric antrum, respectively. Ten out of these 15 patients were male (70%) and the positive result observed for the pyloric antrum was associated with males. Mild histopathological changes were observed in most gastric and liver samples. Gastric samples subjected to PCR presented positive results in 60.7%, whereas liver samples accounted for positive results in 17.8% and bile samples, in 3.5% of cases. There was high nucleotide identity with NHPH species. This study has found evidence that NHPH can be found in the gastric and hepatic regions, as in the bile of domestic cats, besides emphasizing the zoonotic potential of this disease RESUMO As Helicobacter não Helicobacter pylori (HNHP) são responsáveis por causar gastrite moderada e severa em seres humanos; além disso, são espécies que já são documentadas na cavidade oral de felinos. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar a evidência de Helicobacter spp. em gatos domésticos necropsiados, na região central do Rio Grande do Sul. Para tanto, utilizaram-se 30 cadáveres de gatos, cujas amostras de estômago, fígado e bile foram submetidas ao teste rápido de urease (TRU), à análise histopatológica, ao PCR e ao sequenciamento de nucleotídeos, para demonstrar a presença de material genético e identificar o principal grupo filogenético. No TRU, 64,2% dos pacientes foram positivos no corpo gástrico e 53,5% foram positivos no antro pilórico. Destes 15 pacientes, 10 eram machos (70%), sendo o resultado positivo no antro pilórico associado ao sexo masculino. Foram observadas alterações histopatológicas discretas na maioria das amostras gástricas e hepáticas. As amostras gástricas submetidas ao PCR foram positivas em 60,7%; já as hepáticas, em 17,8%; e em 3,5% das amostras de bile. Houve alta identidade de nucleotídeo com as espécies de HNHP. Conclui-se que existem evidênc