An investigative study on the zoonotic potential of Helicobacter pylori

Abstract

Background Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common bacterial infections and is widespread globally. It causes a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, though a great proportion of infections are asymptomatic. A total of 143 fresh stool samples were collected from apparently healthy farm and pet animals (43 cattle, 50 buffaloes, 50 sheep, 50 dogs, and 50 cats), in addition to 768 human stool samples. The samples were examined using stool antigen and rapid antibody tests, and further confirmation of glmM “human antigen-positive samples and animal milk samples” was conducted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results The prevalence rates of H. pylori infection in animals were 22.2% and 16% in antibody and stool antigen tests, respectively. The detection rates were 28%, 24%, 12%, 10%, and 4.7% in cats, dogs, buffaloes, sheep, and cattle, respectively. On the other hand, the prevalence rate of H. pylori infection in human stool samples was 74.8%, and a statistically significant association was observed between prevalence and several factors, such as sex, age, and locality. PCR was performed to detect the glmM gene of H. pylori, and this gene was found in 21 of 27 human antigen-positive samples and 5 of 13 animal milk samples. Conclusions H. pylori was detected in both human and animal samples. Furthermore, glmM was found in milk and human samples. Our findings suggest that pet and farm animals could transmit H. pylori infection to humans.

Molecular characterization of Helicobacter pylori isolated from Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and fish handlers

“…In our study, the youngest age group (16–25 years) was less susceptible to H. pylori infection (17.65%); this result was proportionate with that obtained by Shah et al [ 55 ], who recorded the lowest infection rate in the youngest age group 11–30 years (19.8%). Nevertheless, different results were recorded by previous studies, which were conducted by Khoder et al [ 43 ], who found that H. pylori infection increased extremely with age, and Shaaban et al [ 44 ], who recovered the highest infection rate in the over 50 years age group (87.3%), followed by the 15–50 years age group (76.8%). On the other hand, Mehesin et al [ 42 ] demonstrated that there was no correlation between the prevalence of H. pylori infection and age.…”

“…A closely related result was obtained by Khoder et al [ 43 ] who recorded 41% of healthy asymptomatic residents in the United Arab Emirates as H. pylori positive. While higher detection rates were observed in the Egyptian patients stools by Salem et al [ 7 ] and Shaaban et al [ 44 ] at 73.7% and 74.8%, respectively, using the rapid antigen test, On the other hand, lower results were reported by Hassan et al [ 45 ], Almashhadany and Mayass [ 46 ], and Seid et al [ 47 ] as 25, 30.4, and 18.45%, respectively. This disparity in H. pylori prevalence could be attributed to the sociodemographic status of the investigated population, geographical variations, and hygienic measures.…”

“…Contrarily, a slightly higher infection rate was detected in females (19.55%) than in males (16.44%) by using an antigen screening test [ 46 ]. Through molecular and serological studies, which were done by Castro et al [ 52 ], Mehesin et al [ 42 ], and Shaaban et al [ 44 ], there was no significant higher infection rate in females than males, as 14.6, 11.2 and 55.5, 44.5 and 79.7, 65.5%, respectively. Moreover, Rasheed et al [ 53 ] and Wang et al [ 22 ] were in agreement with our result that males were more prone to H. pylori infection than females.…”

Helicobacter pylori infection in humans and phytotherapy, probiotics, and emerging therapeutic interventions: a review

“…In the Tatra Mountains of Poland, the prevalence of H. pylori was particularly high among shepherds and their family members (97.6% and 86%, respectively), compared with 65.1% among farmers who were not exposed to sheep ( Papież et al, 2003 ; Soloski et al, 2022 ). In addition, H. pylori has been detected in milk, meat (mutton, beef) and other fresh foods, suggesting that milk and sheep milk may be a vector for H. pylori infection in humans ( Hemmatinezhad et al, 2016 ; Shaaban et al, 2023 ). A study in Japan confirmed by PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) that two dogs were infected with the same strain of H. pylori as their owners ( Kubota-Aizawa et al, 2021 ).…”

“…The contamination rate of mutton was as steep as 13.07%, and that of goat mutton was 11.53% ( Mashak et al, 2020 ). Shaaban et al detected H. pylori in 13 milk samples from farm animals infected with H. pylori , and H. pylori in 5 milk samples ( Shaaban et al, 2023 ).…”