Tradidional diagnosis, 23S rRNA gene analysis and metagenomic profiling of Helicobacter spp. in human and feline (cat) hosts: Implications for zoonotic transmission | ||||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 26 August 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.406341.3039 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Mohammed Adnan Salim  ; Bashar Sadeq Noomi
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| Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary, Tikrit University, Tikrit, Iraq | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: The notable genetic variety and adaptability of Helicobacter species have enabled its successful colonization of diverse host environments. This research aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying host adaptation and provide critical insights into the public health risks associated with human-animal transmission of this important gastric pathogen. Methods: 120 blood and stool samples were collected from humans, along with 25 cat stool samples from suspected infected animals. Samples were analyzed using immunological and urease tests for Helicobacter detection, and 23s rRNA sequencing and metagenomics were used to assess bacterial community composition. Results: The results showed that positive blood and stool samples were 33 (55%) and 38 (63.3%), respectively. The cat owners group had 19 positive samples (63.4%) while the non-cat owners had 11 positive samples (36.7%). In the cat samples, 7 out of 25 samples gave positive results (28%). While molecular diagnosis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that 8 out of 40 tested samples were positive (20%). Metagenomic profiling demonstrated a relatively weak presence of Helicobacter species in the studied samples with rates of (0.00099%), (0.32%), (0.05%), for H. pylori, H. canis and H. bilis respectively. Conslusions: Cat ownership is associated with an increased risk of Helicobacter transmission, suggesting their role as a potential carrier of the bacteria. In addition to, the presence of same bacterial genera between humans and cats highlights the importance of studying the human-animal relationship within the framework of the One Health concept. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Helicobacter; Human; Feline; 23s rRNA; Metagenomic profiling | ||||
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