Lab Anim Res.  2010 Sep;26(3):319-321.

Postpartum Transmission as a Major Route of Mother-to-Child Helicobacter felis Infection

• Hong S
• Lee HA
• Kim Y
• Kim O

Abstract

In this study we investigated maternal Helicobacter felis (H. felis) infection status to determine the potential of maternal transmission. Pregnant Beagle dogs were infected experimentally with H. felis. Following the experimental design, the stools of the mother and litters were isolated and assessed for transmission of H. felis at parturition day, 1-week old age and 6-week old age respectively. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to examine the presence of transmitted H. felis. All litters showed no transmission of H. felis at parturition day. However, they revealed 14.3% and 100% at 1-week old age and 6-week old age respectively by PCR. These results suggested that vertical infection during prenatal period or delivery procedure is unlikely as a route of mother-to-child H. felis infection. It might be acquired H. felis through breast-feeding, contaminating saliva and fecal-oral during co-habitat.

Keyword

Helicobacter; H. felis; dog; transmission; route; postpartum

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cats
Dogs
Felis
Helicobacter
Helicobacter felis
Humans
Mothers
Parturition
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Postpartum Period
Research Design
Saliva

Figure

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  Figure 1. Result of Helicobacter felis specific polymerase chain reaction with the fecal samples. P, positive control; N, negative control; M1, mother 1; M2, mother 2; L1~L7, litter 1~litter 7. On parturition day, there was no positive reaction in litters, while 6 weeks postpartum, all litters showed positive reaction.

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