HELICOBACTERIA IN ANIMALS - MYTH OR REALITY - 1 - REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Helicobacteria were observed more than one century ago. Helicobacter p ylori, the type-strain of the genus, has been the subject of many stud ies in human medicine for the fifteen years. Several bacterial propert ies are involved in bacterial virulence and pathogenicity. Indeed, H. pylori is responsible for gastritis, gastric ulcers and gastric neopla sms. Many other Helicobacter species colonize the stomach, the intesti nal tract and the liver of humans and animals. In veterinary medicine, gastric helicobacteria in domestic carnivora are also associated with lesions. Their diagnosis requires several complementary techniques to identify the bacterial species. Therapy consists of three drugs among which two antibiotics and is able to eradicate the infection. Hygiene is the main current prophylactic approach, but vaccination and probio tics are also future prophylactic tools.