Comparative molecular detection of Helicobacter spp. and Wolinella in the oral cavity of cats and dogs with periodontal disease and healthy individuals
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: Helicobacter and Wolinella are gram-negative bacteria belonging to the Helicobacteraceae family. While Helicobacter species are well-known for their role in gastric disorders, emerging evidence suggests their presence in the oral cavity and potential involvement in periodontal diseases.
Materials and Methods: Helicobacter and Wolinella species were investigated in 122 saliva and periodontal plaque samples from dogs and cats by DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and 16S rDNA gene identification.
Results: Comparing the periodontitis group and the healthy group, a higher incidence of positive Wolinella and Helicobacter species was shown in both dog and cat groups. 16S rDNA genes of Helicobacter were detected in 60% of the cats and 67.7% of the dogs. Detection of 16S rDNA genes of the Wolinella group in felines was 78.3% which was higher than in canines (67.7%). Helicobacter felis (35%) was the most common species detected in cats, contrary to dogs, in which Helicobacter heilmannii (30%) detection was higher (in both groups). Helicobacter pylori was not detected in either group.
Conclusion: Comparing the occurrence of Helicobacter and Wolinella in the mouths of dogs and cats, their association with periodontal disease, and the possibility of a common source of infections between humans and companion animals is of great importance for the management of oral health in animals and humans.
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2. Teixeira S, Filipe D, Cerqueira M, Barradas P, Cortez Nunes F, Faria F, et al. Helicobacter spp. in the stomach of cats: successful colonization and absence of relevant histopathological alterations reveal high adaptation to the host gastric niche. Vet Sci 2022; 9: 228.
3. Iman M, Mirfakhraee S. Novel drug delivery systems for combating H. pylori: A brief review. Arch Razi Inst 2024; 79: 903-914.
4. Haesebrouck F, Pasmans F, Flahou B, Chiers K, Baele M, Meyns T, et al. Gastric helicobacters in domestic animals and nonhuman primates and their significance for human health. Clin Microbiol Rev 2009; 22: 202-223.
5. Petersen RF, Harrington CS, Kortegaard HE, On S. A PCR‐DGGE method for detection and identification of Campylobacter, Helicobacter, Arcobacter and related Epsilobacteria and its application to saliva samples from humans and domestic pets. J Appl Microbiol 2007; 103: 2601-2615.
6. Craven M, Recordati C, Gualdi V, Pengo G, Luini M, Scanziani E, et al. Evaluation of the Helicobacteraceae in the oral cavity of dogs. Am J Vet Res 2011; 72: 1476-1481.
7. Zelickson MS, Bronder CM, Johnson BL, Camunas JA, Smith DE, Rawlinson D, et al. Helicobacter pylori is not the predominant etiology for peptic ulcers requiring operation. Am Surg 2011; 77: 1054-1060.
8. Baar C, Eppinger M, Raddatz G, Simon J, Lanz C, Klimmek O, et al. Complete genome sequence and analysis of Wolinella succinogenes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003; 100: 11690-11695.
9. De Bock M, Van den Bulck K, Hellemans A, Daminet S, Coche J-C, Debongnie J-C, et al. Peptic ulcer disease associated with Helicobacter felis in a dog owner. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007; 19: 79-82.
10. De Groote D, Van Doorn LJ, Van den Bulck K, Vandamme P, Vieth M, Stolte M, et al. Detection of non‐pylori Helicobacter species in “Helicobacter heilmannii”‐infected humans. Helicobacter 2005; 10: 398-406.
11. Priestnall SL, Wiinberg B, Spohr A, Neuhaus B, Kuffer M, Wiedmann M, et al. Evaluation of “Helicobacter heilmannii” subtypes in the gastric mucosas of cats and dogs. J Clin Microbiol 2004; 42: 2144-2151.
12. Shaaban SI, Talat D, Khatab SA, Nossair MA, Ayoub MA, Ewida RM, et al. An investigative study on the zoonotic potential of Helicobacter pylori. BMC Vet Res 2023; 19: 16.
13. Fahad MA. Investigating the effect of eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in controlling blood sugar in diabetic patients. Arch Razi Inst 2024; 79: 1235-1239.
14. Foroughi M, Torabinejad M, Angelov N, Ojcius DM, Parang K, Ravnan M, et al. Bridging oral and systemic health: exploring pathogenesis, biomarkers, and diagnostic innovations in periodontal disease. Infection 2025; 10.1007/s15010-025-02568-y.
15. Hasan F, Tandon A, AlQallaf H, John V, Sinha M, Gibson MP. Inflammatory asociation between periodontal disease and systemic health. Inflammation 2025; 10.1007/s10753-025-02317-1.
16. Gendron R, Grenier D, Maheu-Robert L. The oral cavity as a reservoir of bacterial pathogens for focal infections. Microbes Infect 2000; 2: 897-906.
17. Niemiec BA. Periodontal disease. Top Companion Anim Med 2008; 23: 72-80.
18. Jamshidi S, Barekatein H, Bokaei S, Ghareghani R. Epidemiologic study of periodontal disease in dogs referred to the small animal hospital, faculty of veterinary medicine, University of Tehran. J Vet Res 2005; 60: 1-60.
19. Adler I, Muiño A, Aguas S, Harada L, Diaz M, Lence A, et al. Helicobacter pylori and oral pathology: relationship with the gastric infection. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20: 9922-9935.
20. Brown LM. Helicobacter pylori: epidemiology and routes of transmission. Epidemiol Rev 2000; 22: 283-297.
21. Ashbolt NJ. Microbial contamination of drinking water and disease outcomes in developing regions. Toxicology 2004; 198: 229-238.
22. Craven M, Recordati C, Gualdi V, Pengo G, Luini M, Scanziani E, et al. Evaluation of the Helicobacteraceae in the oral cavity of dogs. Am J Vet Res 2011; 72: 1476-1481.
23. Arfaee F, Jamshidi S, Azimirad M, Dabiri H, Tabrizi AS, Zali MR. PCR-based diagnosis of Helicobacter species in the gastric and oral samples of stray dogs. Comp Clin Pathol 2014; 23: 135-139.
24. Ghil H-M, Yoo J-H, Jung W-S, Chung T-H, Youn H-Y, Hwang C-Y. Survey of Helicobacter infection in domestic and feral cats in Korea. J Vet Sci 2009; 10: 67-72.
25. Wang X, Xu K, Zhang T, Zeng J, Feng P, Liu H, et al. Is Helicobacter pylori infection associated with animal contact? A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Public Health (Oxf) 2025; 47(3): e298-e308.
26. Taillieu E, Chiers K, Amorim I, Gärtner F, Maes D, Van Steenkiste C, et al. Gastric Helicobacter species associated with dogs, cats and pigs: significance for public and animal health. Vet Res 2022; 53: 42.
27. Taillieu E, De Bruyckere S, Van Steenkiste C, Chiers K, Haesebrouck F. Presence of potentially novel Helicobacter pylori-like organisms in gastric samples from cats and dogs. Vet Res 2023; 54: 93.
2. Teixeira S, Filipe D, Cerqueira M, Barradas P, Cortez Nunes F, Faria F, et al. Helicobacter spp. in the stomach of cats: successful colonization and absence of relevant histopathological alterations reveal high adaptation to the host gastric niche. Vet Sci 2022; 9: 228.
3. Iman M, Mirfakhraee S. Novel drug delivery systems for combating H. pylori: A brief review. Arch Razi Inst 2024; 79: 903-914.
4. Haesebrouck F, Pasmans F, Flahou B, Chiers K, Baele M, Meyns T, et al. Gastric helicobacters in domestic animals and nonhuman primates and their significance for human health. Clin Microbiol Rev 2009; 22: 202-223.
5. Petersen RF, Harrington CS, Kortegaard HE, On S. A PCR‐DGGE method for detection and identification of Campylobacter, Helicobacter, Arcobacter and related Epsilobacteria and its application to saliva samples from humans and domestic pets. J Appl Microbiol 2007; 103: 2601-2615.
6. Craven M, Recordati C, Gualdi V, Pengo G, Luini M, Scanziani E, et al. Evaluation of the Helicobacteraceae in the oral cavity of dogs. Am J Vet Res 2011; 72: 1476-1481.
7. Zelickson MS, Bronder CM, Johnson BL, Camunas JA, Smith DE, Rawlinson D, et al. Helicobacter pylori is not the predominant etiology for peptic ulcers requiring operation. Am Surg 2011; 77: 1054-1060.
8. Baar C, Eppinger M, Raddatz G, Simon J, Lanz C, Klimmek O, et al. Complete genome sequence and analysis of Wolinella succinogenes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003; 100: 11690-11695.
9. De Bock M, Van den Bulck K, Hellemans A, Daminet S, Coche J-C, Debongnie J-C, et al. Peptic ulcer disease associated with Helicobacter felis in a dog owner. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007; 19: 79-82.
10. De Groote D, Van Doorn LJ, Van den Bulck K, Vandamme P, Vieth M, Stolte M, et al. Detection of non‐pylori Helicobacter species in “Helicobacter heilmannii”‐infected humans. Helicobacter 2005; 10: 398-406.
11. Priestnall SL, Wiinberg B, Spohr A, Neuhaus B, Kuffer M, Wiedmann M, et al. Evaluation of “Helicobacter heilmannii” subtypes in the gastric mucosas of cats and dogs. J Clin Microbiol 2004; 42: 2144-2151.
12. Shaaban SI, Talat D, Khatab SA, Nossair MA, Ayoub MA, Ewida RM, et al. An investigative study on the zoonotic potential of Helicobacter pylori. BMC Vet Res 2023; 19: 16.
13. Fahad MA. Investigating the effect of eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in controlling blood sugar in diabetic patients. Arch Razi Inst 2024; 79: 1235-1239.
14. Foroughi M, Torabinejad M, Angelov N, Ojcius DM, Parang K, Ravnan M, et al. Bridging oral and systemic health: exploring pathogenesis, biomarkers, and diagnostic innovations in periodontal disease. Infection 2025; 10.1007/s15010-025-02568-y.
15. Hasan F, Tandon A, AlQallaf H, John V, Sinha M, Gibson MP. Inflammatory asociation between periodontal disease and systemic health. Inflammation 2025; 10.1007/s10753-025-02317-1.
16. Gendron R, Grenier D, Maheu-Robert L. The oral cavity as a reservoir of bacterial pathogens for focal infections. Microbes Infect 2000; 2: 897-906.
17. Niemiec BA. Periodontal disease. Top Companion Anim Med 2008; 23: 72-80.
18. Jamshidi S, Barekatein H, Bokaei S, Ghareghani R. Epidemiologic study of periodontal disease in dogs referred to the small animal hospital, faculty of veterinary medicine, University of Tehran. J Vet Res 2005; 60: 1-60.
19. Adler I, Muiño A, Aguas S, Harada L, Diaz M, Lence A, et al. Helicobacter pylori and oral pathology: relationship with the gastric infection. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20: 9922-9935.
20. Brown LM. Helicobacter pylori: epidemiology and routes of transmission. Epidemiol Rev 2000; 22: 283-297.
21. Ashbolt NJ. Microbial contamination of drinking water and disease outcomes in developing regions. Toxicology 2004; 198: 229-238.
22. Craven M, Recordati C, Gualdi V, Pengo G, Luini M, Scanziani E, et al. Evaluation of the Helicobacteraceae in the oral cavity of dogs. Am J Vet Res 2011; 72: 1476-1481.
23. Arfaee F, Jamshidi S, Azimirad M, Dabiri H, Tabrizi AS, Zali MR. PCR-based diagnosis of Helicobacter species in the gastric and oral samples of stray dogs. Comp Clin Pathol 2014; 23: 135-139.
24. Ghil H-M, Yoo J-H, Jung W-S, Chung T-H, Youn H-Y, Hwang C-Y. Survey of Helicobacter infection in domestic and feral cats in Korea. J Vet Sci 2009; 10: 67-72.
25. Wang X, Xu K, Zhang T, Zeng J, Feng P, Liu H, et al. Is Helicobacter pylori infection associated with animal contact? A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Public Health (Oxf) 2025; 47(3): e298-e308.
26. Taillieu E, Chiers K, Amorim I, Gärtner F, Maes D, Van Steenkiste C, et al. Gastric Helicobacter species associated with dogs, cats and pigs: significance for public and animal health. Vet Res 2022; 53: 42.
27. Taillieu E, De Bruyckere S, Van Steenkiste C, Chiers K, Haesebrouck F. Presence of potentially novel Helicobacter pylori-like organisms in gastric samples from cats and dogs. Vet Res 2023; 54: 93.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 17 No 5 (2025) | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v17i5.19880 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Helicobacter Wolinella Cats Dogs Saliva Periodontitis Polymerase chain reaction | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Jamshidi S, Mozafari M, Khanipour Machiani M, Bashizade M. Comparative molecular detection of Helicobacter spp. and Wolinella in the oral cavity of cats and dogs with periodontal disease and healthy individuals. Iran J Microbiol. 2025;17(5):718-724.
