Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Localization of Helicobacter spp. in the fundic mucosa of laboratory Beagle dogs: an ultrastructural study.
- Journal:
- Veterinary research
- Year:
- 2011
- Authors:
- Lanzoni, Anna et al.
- Affiliation:
- Dipartimento di Patologia Animale · Italy
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at the presence of Helicobacter bacteria in the stomach lining of healthy Beagle dogs. Researchers examined six dogs and found that all of them had these bacteria, specifically H. bizzozeronii and H. felis. They discovered that H. bizzozeronii was more common and located in various parts of the stomach glands, while H. felis was mostly found in the upper parts of these glands. Interestingly, the bacteria were seen inside certain stomach cells without causing any noticeable damage. The findings suggest that these bacteria might play a role in how the dog's immune system responds and could be linked to chronic stomach inflammation in dogs.
Abstract
In dogs Helicobacter spp. are found in all gastric regions usually localized in the surface mucus, gastric glands and parietal cells. The aim of this study was to detail the distribution of Helicobacter spp. in the fundic mucosa of asymptomatic Beagle dogs and their intracellular localization within parietal cells, in order to evaluate species-specific pathogenetic effects on gastric cells. The presence of Helicobacter spp. was investigated by immunohistochemistry, TEM, and PCR in the fundic mucosa of six Beagle dogs. Helicobacter spp. were found in all dogs examined, and H. bizzozeronii and H. felis were identified by PCR and confirmed by TEM. In the lumen of the fundic glands, co-localization was common. H. bizzozeronii was present in larger numbers than H. felis in both intraluminal and intraparietal localization. The amounts of H. bizzozeronii were similar in superficial and basal portions of the glands. H. felis was predominantly localized in the superficial portions of gastric glands but almost absent from the base. Within parietal cells, most Helicobacter organisms were intracanalicular, but intact and degenerate Helicobacter organisms were also visualized free in the cytoplasm or in secondary lysosomes. No specific degenerative lesions were found in infected parietal cells. Helicobacter organisms were also observed within macrophages in the lamina propria. In conclusion, there is a differential distribution of H. bizzozeronii and H. felis in the fundic mucosa of Beagle dogs, and their intracellular localization in parietal cells and macrophages suggests novel pathogenic scenarios for the development of immune response and maintenance of chronic gastritis in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21366900/