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Prevalence and Genotyping of Helicobacter pylori Using cagA and vacA Among Humans and Pets (Dogs and Cats) | ||
| Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research | ||
| Article 11, Volume 24, Issue 3, September 2025, Pages 121-135 PDF (2.37 M) | ||
| Document Type: Research Paper | ||
| DOI: 10.23975/bjvr.2025.161188.1227 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Karem Kdaer Karem1; Murtakab Y Al-hejjaj* 2; Alaa S. Alattabi3 | ||
| 1Department of Clinical Laboratories, College of Applied & Medical Sciences, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq | ||
| 2Department of Microbiology, faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah | ||
| 3Microbiology Department, Medical College, Kerbala University, Kerbala, Iraq | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Helicobacter pylori is a globally distributed bacterium that colonizes the gastric mucosa and is associated with several gastrointestinal diseases in humans, including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric carcinoma. While transmission is primarily human-to-human, the role of animals as potential reservoirs remains under investigation. This study aimed to detect H. pylori in domestic cats and dogs and compare the prevalence and genotypic patterns of the cagA and vacA virulence genes with those found in human clinical samples. The study comprised 261 samples, divided into 161 animal samples (dogs and cats) and 100 human gastric biopsies of patients with gastritis. All samples were analyzed by molecular technique (PCR) to detect H. pylori targeting the ureC gene. In addition to identifying the virulence factors cagA and vacA with their genotypes (vacA m1, m2, s1a, s1b, s1c, and s2). The results indicate H. pylori infection rates of 8.2% in dogs, 4% in cats, and 25% in human samples. Notably, a high prevalence of cagA genes (100%), (80%), and (96%) was detected in cats, dogs, and humans, respectively. The vacA m2/s2 strain exhibited a high prevalence of 75% in both cats and humans, compared to 20% in dogs. These findings demonstrate a high frequency of cagA-positive strains in pets and humans, in addition to the predominance vacA m2/s2 genotype in these host species, with a moderate presence in dogs. All together indicate a potential zoonotic transmission pathway and the possibility that companion animals may serve as a reservoir and source of H. pylori infection. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Helicobacter pylori; ureC; cagA; vacA; zoonotic | ||
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