Helicobacter mustelae isolation from feces of ferrets: evidence to support fecal-oral transmission of a gastric Helicobacter

Abstract

Helicobacter mustelae has been isolated from stomachs of ferrets with chronic gastritis and ulcers. When H. mustelae is inoculated orally into H. mustelae-negative ferrets, the animals become colonized and develop gastritis, a significant immune response, and a transient hypochlorhydria. All of these features mimic Helicobacterpylori-induced gastric disease in humans. Because the epidemiology of H. pylori infection is poorly understood and its route of transmission is unknown, the feces of weanling and adult ferrets were cultured for the presence of H. mustelae. H. mustelae was isolated from the feces of 11 of 36 ferrets by using standard helicobacter isolation techniques. H. mustelae was identified by biochemical tests, ultrastructural morphology, reactivity with specific DNA probes, and 16S rRNA sequencing. H. mustelae was not recovered from 20-week-old ferrets which had been H. mustelae positive as weanlings, nor was H. mustelae recovered from 1-year-old ferrets. Isolation of H. mustelae from feces may correspond to periods of transient hypochlorhydria, or H. mustelae may be shed in feces intermittently. The H. mustelae-colonized ferret provides an ideal model for studying the pathogenesis and transmission of H. pylori-induced gastric disease.

Promotion of Ulcerative Duodenitis in Young Ferrets by Oral Immunization with Helicobacter mustelae and Muramyl Dipeptide

“…H. mustelae transmission to the kits occurred near the time of weaning from contact with their naturally infected jills obtained from a colony in which H. mustelae is endemic. The fecal-oral route was the most probable mode of transmission, because fecal shedding of H. mustelae was noted in several jills in this study and has been documented previously [34]. Earlier studies indicated that kits become naturally colonized with H. mustelae near weaning [4], a finding that is supported by observations that kits begin leaving the nest box after 3 weeks of age, thus allowing for a greater exposure to feces and subsequent risk of fecal-oral transmission of H. mustelae.…”

Genome conservation in Helicobacter mustelae as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

“…When H. mustelae is inoculated orally into H. mustelae-free ferrets, the animals become colonized and develop gastritis, as well as a significant immune response and transient hypochlor-hydria [10]. Following infection, H. mustelae can be isolated from ferret feces [11]. Isolation of H. mustelae from feces appears to correspond to periods of transient hypochlorhydria [11].…”

“…Following infection, H. mustelae can be isolated from ferret feces [11]. Isolation of H. mustelae from feces appears to correspond to periods of transient hypochlorhydria [11]. In addition, increased frequency of isolation of H. mustelae from the feces corresponds to drug-induced hypochlorhydria [6].…”

Biology and Diseases of Ferrets

“…It is now known that H. mustelae colonizes nearly 100% of ferrets shortly after weaning. Feces from weanling and adult ferrets have been screened for the presence of H. mustelae to determine whether fecal transmission could explain the 100% prevalence observed in weanling and older ferrets (Fox et al, 1988b(Fox et al, , 1992b. Helicobacter mustelae was isolated from the feces of 8 of 74 nine-week-old and 3 of 8 eight-month-old ferrets.…”