The Fecal Carriage of Helicobacter Species Among Pet Animals Suffering from Gastroenteritis: A Potential Public Health Concern

Background: Although recent research has provided better insights into Helicobacter pylori, much remains unknown regarding non-H. pylori Helicobacter species in animals. Pet animals living close to humans may act as a potential reservoir for a diverse Helicobacter species. Hence, this study aimed to investigate Helicobacter spp.'s prevalence among pet animals suffering from gastroenteritis and their zoonotic relevance. Materials and methods: Eighty-seven fecal samples were collected from dogs (53) and cats (34) suffering from gastroenteritis. The DNA was extracted for the molecular detection of Helicobacter spp., H. canis, H. felis, and H. pylori through amplification of Helicobacter 16S rRNA as well as multiplex PCR targeting H. canis Hsp60, H. felis urease, and H. pylori urease C genes in all samples. Sequencing of some selected PCR amplicons and phylogenetic analysis were conducted. Results: The overall prevalence of Helicobacter spp. ws 34.5%, with the following rates: 37.7% and 29.4% among dogs and cats, respectively. H. canis had the highest occurrence rate (20.7%), whereas H. pylori was detected at 11.5%, followed by H. felis at 2.3%. Coinfection with more than one Helicobacter species has been documented. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis of three partial H. canis 16S rRNA sequences revealed a high genetic relatedness to strains derived from a diarrheic cat and human bacteremic patients with a history of pet exposure, indicating the public health implications of these sequences. Conclusion: The fecal carriage of diverse Helicobacter spp. among dogs and cats suffering from gastroenteritis, with a predominance of H. canis, highlights a potential risk of zoonotic transmission of such pathogens between pets and human contacts.