Novel gastric helicobacters and oral campylobacters are present in captive and wild cetaceans

Abstract

The mammalian gastric and oral mucosa may be colonized by mixed Helicobacter and Campylobacter species, respectively, in individual animals. To better characterize the presence and distribution of Helicobacter and Campylobacter among marine mammals, we used PCR and 16S rDNA sequence analysis to examine gastric and oral samples from ten dolphins (Tursiops gephyreus), one killer whale (Orcinus orca), one false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), and three wild La Plata river dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei). Helicobacter spp. DNA was widely distributed in gastric and oral samples from both captive and wild cetaceans. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated two Helicobacter sequence clusters, one closely related to H. cetorum, a species isolated from dolphins and whales in North America. The second related cluster was to sequences obtained from dolphins in Australia and to gastric non-Helicobacter pylori helicobacters, and may represent a novel taxonomic group. Dental plaque sequences from four dolphins formed a third cluster within the Campylobacter genus that likely represents a novel species isolated from marine mammals. Identification of identical Helicobacter spp. DNA sequences from dental plaque, saliva and gastric fluids from the same hosts, suggests that the oral cavity may be involved in transmission. These results demonstrate that Helicobacter and Campylobacter species are commonly distributed in marine mammals, and identify taxonomic clusters that may represent novel species.

The Family Helicobacteraceae

“…n. cetorum, of cetaceans (whales, dolphins)) was first isolated from the stomachs and feces of adult captive cetaceans (whales, dolphins) (Harper et al 2000(Harper et al , 2002aValidation List 2006b). And has since been detected in South American fur seals and dolphins (Goldman et al 2009(Goldman et al , 2011, Atlantic spotted dolphins (Suarez et al 2010). Interestingly, a Helicobacter species that was shown to be closely related to H. cetorum was detected in analyses of lymph node metatranscriptomes of healthy mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) (Wittekindt et al 2010).…”

Identification of L actobacillus strains with probiotic features from the bottlenose dolphin ( T ursiops truncatus )

“…Pathogens that affect gastrointestinal dolphin health have been previously reviewed elsewhere (Baskin 2006;Venn-Watson et al 2008) and include astroviruses (Rivera et al 2009), Campylobacter spp. (Foster et al 2004;Stoddard 2005;Goldman et al 2011), Clostridium spp. (Buck et al 1987), Edw.…”

“…Further, Helicobacter infections may affect the health status of dolphins by contributing to the pathogenesis of gastric ulcers. In effect, novel helicobacters have been found in wild and captive marine mammals (Goldman et al 2011). Helicobacter cetorum has been isolated from the gastric mucosa of dolphins (Harper et al 2000(Harper et al , 2002, although its relation to gastric disease remains unclear.…”

Dental erosion in South Atlantic dolphins (Cetacea: Delphinidae): A macro and microscopic approach

“…Helicobacter spp. has been diagnosed both in the oral cavity and digestive tract of captive and wild cetaceans (Suárez et al 2010, Goldman et al 2011). Suárez et al (2010) reported positive stomach biopsies for Helicobacter in a dolphin that also presented macroscopic ulcerations and inflammatory alterations, conditions normally present in cases of gastrointestinal disease.…”