HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTIONS IN HUMANS, DOGS, AND CATS - A FEW COMPARATIVE DATA

Helicobacter pylori infections in humans, dogs, and cats : a few compa rative data. -The recent discovery of the contribution of Helicobacter pylori to the genesis of chronic gastritis and to the perpetuation of peptic ulcer disease in humans is a major breakthrough in human gastr oenterology. Epidemiological associations have been demonstrated betwe en gastric H. pylori infections and gastric tumors (adenocarcinoma, MA LT lymphoma). Although H. pylori infection is extremely common through out the world, its epidemiology and ecology are largely unknown. Recen tly developed methods have shed new light on the structure, the taxono my, and the ecologic specificity of Helicobacter species that cause ga stric infections in dogs and cats. The few clinical studies conducted in animals have shown that gastric Helicobacter infections are prevale nt in dogs and cats and that they may contribute to the genesis of the inflammatory gastric conditions common in these species. It has been speculated that human gastric infections due to H. heilmannii, H. feli s, or perhaps even H. pylori may originate in transmission of the orga nism from pets. Animal models of Helicobacter infection hold promise a s tools for studying the diseases caused by these bacteria and for dev eloping a vaccine against human Helicobacter infections.