Helicobacter canis colonization in sheep: a Zoonotic link.

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter canis has been associated with hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal disease in dogs, cats, and humans. Infection has not been documented in other species.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Sheep feces subjected to microaerobic culture. Isolates were characterized by genus-specific PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism, biochemical profiling, and 16S rRNA sequence analysis.

RESULTS

Helicobacter canis was isolated from sheep feces and confirmed by the above methods. These isolates are distinct from other sheep-origin enterohepatic Helicobacter species previously isolated.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies sheep as H. canis reservoirs potentially important in zoonotic or foodborne transmission.