Helicobacter Detection in the Stomach of Apparently Normal Donkeys: Sampling, Diagnostic Methods, and Implications for Equine Glandular Gastric Disease and Serum Antioxidant Status

Abstract

The involvement of Helicobacter-like agents in EGGD is not clear. Much evidence supports the presence of Helicobacter in the horse’s stomach, but it is not so clear about the donkey. The present study was conducted to evaluate the presence of Helicobacter in the stomach of donkeys and assess the best method for its identification and its possible participation in EGGD and serum antioxidant status. Gastric juice sampling and biopsy from NMP and PA were performed by gastroscopic method from 12 donkeys. Histopathology and RUT were used to identify Helicobacter. TAC, THIOL, NO, and DPPH were measured to assess the antioxidant status of serum. Helicobacter was detected only by the RUT method in one donkey (8.33%), but it is unlikely that this infection was effective in causing EGGD. The RUT results for the three samples of gastric juice, NMP, and PA were not different. Histopathology of NMP and PA did not show Helicobacter infection. Helicobacter is present in the stomach of a donkey but does not change the antioxidant status of serum. The RUT is more efficient than H&E histopathology for the assessment of H. pylori in the equine stomach, and the RUT of gastric juice is preferable to tissue samples because it is easy, fast, and non-invasive. In conclusion, further studies using more accurate methods are recommended to evaluate the effect of Helicobacter in the gastric diseases of donkeys and other equine.

Keywords

• equine gastric ulcer syndrome
• donkey
• microbiome
• antioxidant