Introduction

In dogs, spiral-shaped bacteria are commonly found in the stomach. Helicobacter spp. (Hspp) is present in 67 to 86% of clinically healthy dogs and in 61 to 100% of dogs presenting with chronic vomiting. This prevalence was studied by a combination of urease mapping, PCR, fecal culture, immunohistochemistry and histopathology (hematoxylin-eosin stain and modified Giemsa).

Objective

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of Hspp in gastric biopsy samples of dogs with chronic digestive signs.

Methods

A retrospective study of 137 dogs, previously treated with antibiotics, which underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between 2012–2015 in Buenos Aires. Gastric biopsies were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and modified Giemsa (more than 20 organisms/400x).

Results

Dogs included were 74 males and 63 females; clinical signs: 118 had vomiting, 57 diarrhea, 48 with weight loss, and 45 with hematochezia. In the histopathological stains there were 16 dogs positive to Hspp. (11.68%) and 1 to Candida spp. Fourteen of these dogs had abdominal ultrasound: 8 presented normal gastric thickness and echogenicity; 8 normal gastric thickness and hypoechogenicity.

Conclusion

Although it is possible to use more specific tests to diagnose Hspp, we preferred to use histopathology as a routine diagnostic complementary test in the clinics. Our results showed a low prevalence of Hspp; this could be due to the previous treatment that the dogs received. Clinical relevance is controversial, and it is evident when clinically healthy dogs and dogs with chronic vomiting are compared with specific tests.