Helicobacter mustelae-associated Gastric Adenocarcinoma in Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori in humans is associated with active, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and most recently has been linked epidemiologically to gastric adenocarcinoma. A related organism, Helicobacter mustelae, naturally infects ferrets and also causes a persistent gastritis, a precancerous lesion, and focal glandular atrophy of the proximal antrum. In this report, we document the clinical presentation and histopathologic confirmation of H. mustelae-associated gastric adenocarcinoma in two middle-aged male ferrets. The ferret appears to be well suited to study the pathogenesis of naturally occurring Helicobacter sp.-induced gastric adenocarcinoma.

Molecular identification of Helicobacter DNA in human gastric adenocarcinoma tissues using Helicobacter species-specific 16S rRNA PCR amplification and pyrosequencing analysis

“…A previous study suggested that the high tumor incidence reported in mNNG-treated ferrets reflected the involvement of H. mustelae infection in the carcinogenic process in these animals (26). A previously reported case linking H. mustelae and gastric adenocarcinoma supports the hypothesis that H. mustelae, similar to H. pylori in humans, may be a gastric co-carcinogen in ferrets (27). However, this hypothesis has yet to be confirmed in humans.…”

Helicobacter species and in vivo models of gastrointestinal cancer

“…32,[34][35][36] Unlike the previous reports which cited poor prognosis in ferrets with gastric adenocarcinoma, the two young ferrets responded well to surgical intervention and to date remain asymptomatic postoperatively. 32 These two cases linking H. mustelae and gastric adenocarcinoma, plus depicting H. mustelae in a ferret previously reported with gastric adenocarcinoma 33 support the hypothesis that H. mustelae, like H. pylori in humans, may be a gastric cocarcinogen in ferrets. Gastric lymphoma is the most common primary extranodal lymphoma in humans, and the incidence appears to be increasing.…”

“…Recently, our laboratory described two ferrets with H. mustelae-associated gastric adenocarcinoma, and the presence of H. mustelae in another ferret previously diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma. 32,33 In both cases, the neoplasms manifested as multiple foci of tubules lined by mucous epithelium, that have invaded into the deep submucosa resulting in a marked local scirrhous response. In silver-stained sections of the pylorus from these two cases, there were moderate to abundant numbers of H. mustelae ( Figure 2) within the superficial to middle region of the pyloric pits.…”

“…Naturally occurring pyloric adenocarcinoma has also been linked to H. mustelae in ferrets. 32 Also, ferrets have been successfully used as a suitable model to study the pathogenesis and epidemiology of Helicobacter-associated chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. 127 The histopathological changes observed closely coincide in topography with the presence of H. mustelae.…”

Infiltrative gastric adenocarcinoma in a chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

“…12 Gastric adenocarcinomas have been associated with Helicobacter spp. infection in ferrets 4 and a Syrian hamster. 13 In addition, a case of gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma was reported in a cougar infected by Helicobacter-like organisms and other spirochetes.…”