Helicobacter
Causes Ulcers in Humans, but what does it do to cats?
Physicains
once believed that peptic ulcers were caused by stress. That
belief persisted until scientists discovered that many ulcers
result from infections caused by the spiral-shaped bacteruum
Helicobacter pylori. Today, human peptic ulcers are managed by
eradicating Helicobacter with antibiotics
Veterinary researchers are also interestd in this organism because member of the same bacterial genus inhabit the stomach, intestines, and sometimes the liver of many animals, including cats and dogs.
Helicobactor organisms are fairly common in cats.
Studies have found the bacteria in 86 percewnt of cats from
random sources, 41-60 percent of clinically heathy cats, and
57-76 percent of cats examined because they were vomiting.
Actually, three species of Helicobacter have been found in the
stomachs of cats; H felis and H heilmannii from feline
companions, and H pylori from a group of laboratory cats.
Researcher
suspect that Helicobacter are spread from one animal to another
via an oral-oral and or fecal-oral route. While the actual route
of infection is unclear, the source of the Helicobacter may be as
close as the nearest body of water. Recent studies indentified H
pylori in surface water samples taken in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Thus, the environment may be an important reservoir of infection.
While H pylori, H heilmannii, and H felis have been linked to
human disease, the direct transmission of Helicobacter from cat
to human or human to cat has not been scientifically proven.More
than 99 percent of human helicobacter-associated gastric disease
involves H pylori, while H heilmannii and H felis account for the
remaining 1 perecent.
Even though we don't know if
Helicobacter are transmitted between humans and cats, it is
advised that cat owners wash their hands after handling cats,
particcularly after cleaning cat vomit or the litter box. In
addition, cat owners who enjoy cuddling with their cats would be
wise to avoid letting cats lick their gaces, especially around
their mounths
Are
chronic vomiting and gastritis possible clinical manifestations
of gastric helicobacter infection in cats? Clinicians are not
sure that the bacteria cause any illness at all in cats. In order
for your veterinarian to find the specific cause, your cat may
need to have laboratory tests of his blood and body fluids,
X-rays, ultrasound examination, or even gastrointestinal
endoscopy.