An evaluation of the usefulness of invasive and non-invasive methods used to diagnose Helicobacter spp. infections in dogs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of invasive and non-invasive methods used to diagnose Helicobacter spp. in the stomachs of dogs. The study was carried out on 30 dogs of both sexes and different breeds, between one and 15 years old. A histopathologic examination, a microbiological culture, a rapid urease test, a direct bacteriological preparation and a nested PCR assay were carried out. Gastric Helicobacter spp. was identified in gastric biopsy specimens from 16 (53.3%) dogs using direct bacteriological preparation, in four (13.3%) dogs based on a culture, in 23 (76.6%) dogs using the rapid urease test and in 21 (70,0%) dogs based on a histopathological assessment of the biopsy specimens. The nested PCR of the gastric biopsy specimens revealed gastric Helicobacter spp. in all the dogs (100%). A saliva PCR assay revealed gastric Helicobacter spp. in 23 (76.6%) dogs, while stool PCR revealed the bacterium in seven (23.3%) dogs. We found that invasive methods were more accurate than non-invasive methods in detecting a Helicobacter spp. infection in dogs. In addition, the nested PCR method used to evaluate the gastric mucosal biopsy specimens was the most accurate test for detecting Helicobacter spp. It was further found that the PCR-based saliva assay was the best non-invasive method for detecting Helicobacter spp. However, taking into consideration that most of the diagnostic methods used to detect this bacterium have drawbacks, at least two diagnostic methods should be used to detect Helicobacter spp. as is done in human medicine.

Changes in the Salivary Proteome Associated With Canine Pyometra

“…Because saliva may reflect the overall physiological status, it is envisioned that it will be used increasingly in relation to diseases' early diagnosis or monitoring (9). In dogs, saliva has been usefully employed for the diagnosis of infectious (10)(11)(12) and metabolic (13) diseases, among others. Saliva composition is also known to be modulated in canine pyometra because increased and decreased concentrations of adenosine deaminase and adiponectin, respectively-biomarkers related to of inflammation-were found in bitches with pyometra in comparison to healthy ones (14,15).…”

Changes in salivary analytes in canine parvovirus: A high-resolution quantitative proteomic study

“…In dogs, saliva has proven to be an useful biofluid for the diagnostic of several conditions such as leishmaniosis [7] and helicobacter infection [8], as well as for evaluation of stress [9]. The use of noninvasive specimens such as saliva provides several advantages compared to invasive methods, being safer for the personal and the patient, easier to collect, pain-free and causes reduced sampling stress [10].…”

An exploratory study on the presence of Helicobacter heilmannii and Helicobacter billis in the feces of companion dogs

“…Finally, not a single 'gold-standard' method exists for the detection of the infection induced by Helicobacter spp. ; thus, its confirmation requires the joint application of at least two tests (Jankowski et al, 2017;Patel et al, 2014). Ekman et al (2013) and Hong et al (2015) used laboratory dogs that were kept together in the same kennel, thus facilitating the transmission of the Helicobacter spp.…”