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Helicobacter mustelae gastritis
Introduction
- This disease has many similarities with gastritis in humans caused by Helicobacter pylori.
- The ferret has been used as an animal model for Helicobacter-associated illness.
- Cause: chronic gastritis (sometimes with duodenitis) and ulcers caused by the spiral bacteria Helicobacter mustelae.
- Signs: asymptomatic; anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, melena, weight loss, abdominal pain, lethargy.
- Diagnosis: hematology, biochemistry, serology, endoscopy, bacterial culture
- Treatment: a combination of different drugs to prevent the development of resistance,
- Prognosis: generally good.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Helicobacter mustelae is a gram-negative and curved bacteria, better visualized using silver stains such as the Warthin-Starry stain.
- Prevalence of infection is variable, and some facilities in the USA have reported a prevalence of 100% in adult animals, while only a few ferrets younger than 6 weeks were infected; this is indicative of infection after weaning through the mother, that persists for the life of the ferret.
- Most pet ferrets in the US originate from a commercial breeder and seem to have a high prevalence.
- Much lower prevalences reported in other countries.
- However, prevalence of infection is not completely correlated with development of disease.
Pathophysiology
- Koch’s postulates have been fulfilled, and the oral administration of H. mustelae to ferrets free of this bacterium produces colonization, chronic gastritis and a rise in anti-H. mustelae antibody titer.
- Histologic changes consist of superficial mononuclear gastritis in the body of the stomach and diffuse mononuclear gastritis in the pyloric antrum.
- The highest number of bacteria are usually found in the pyloric antrum.
- Ferrets free of H. mustelae do not have these lesions.
- Severity of gastritis is correlated with the number of organisms.
- In addition, some authors state that disease is more frequently seen in older animals, while other authors believe stressed young (3-5 months old) animals are more susceptible to the disease.
- Infection by Helicobacer mustelae produce auto-antibodies, which can contribute to the development of gastritis.
- It is possible that these auto-antibodies could also be implicated in the reactivity of spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes, although lymphoid tissue (particularly mesenteric) reacts significantly in ferrets with any inflammation.
- The infection is also associated with hypochlorhydria and hypergastrinemia, and it has been observed that the hypochlorhydria caused by the administration of omeprazole increases fecal excretion of the bacteria.
- Hypergastrinemia is linked to the development of gastric ulcers.
- Chronic gastritis can lead to preneoplastic changes, and the infection with H. mustelae has been associated with gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma.
- Transmission: fecal-oral.
- Experimental infections do not necessarily correlate with clinical signs seen in spontaneously infected ferrets. Many pet ferrets may be asymptomatic.
Epidemiology
- Clinical disease not particularly common when considering the high prevalence of infection.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Johnson-Delaney C A (2005) The ferret gastrointestinal tract and Helicobacter mustelae infection. Vet Clin North Am Exotic Anim Pract 8 (2), 197-212 PubMed.
- Lennox A M (2005) Gastrointestinal diseases of the ferret. Vet Clin North Am Exotic Anim Pract 8 (2), 213-225 VetClinExoticAnimPract.
- Marini R P, Fox J G et al (1999) Ranitidine bismuth citrate and clarithromycin, alone or in cvombination, for eradication of Helicobacter mustelae infection in ferrets. Am J Vet Res 60 (10), 1280-1286 PubMed.
- Erdman S E, Correa P, Coleman L A et al (1997) Helicobacter mustelae-associated gastric MALT lymphoma in ferrets. Am J Pathol 151 (1), 273-280 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Perpinan D & Johnson-Delaney C A (2017) Disorders of the Digestive System and Liver. In: Ferret Medicine and Surgery. Ed: Johnson-Delaney C A. CRC Press, USA. pp 159-190.
- Maurer K J & Fox J G (2014) Diseases of the Gastrointestinal System. In: Biology and Diseases of the Ferret. 3rd edn. Wiley & Sons, Ames, USA. pp 363-375.
- Hoefer H L, Fox J G & Bell J A (2012) Gastrointestinal Diseases. In: Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents. 3rd edn. Eds: Quesenberry K E & Carpenter J W. Elsevier, USA. pp 27-45.
- Burgess M E (2007) Ferret Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Diseases. In: Ferret Husbandry, Medicine and Surgery. 2nd edn. Saunders, USA. pp 203-223.