Pathology and molecular diagnosis of helicobacter infection in pig
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Date
2022-09
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College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus
Abstract
Helicobacter is a zoonotic bacterium that has been associated with gastritis and
ulcearative lesion in the stomach of pig. Prevalence of Helicobacter infection in pig was
determined from four districts of Assam during the period from July, 2021 to June, 2022.
The prevalence of Helicobacter infection was found to be 39.9% and 45.67% by RUT and
PCR test, respectively. The age wise prevalence of Helicobacter infection revealed highest
in adult pigs 42.37% (RUT) and 48% (PCR) in comparison with piglet 23.07% (RUT) and
16.66% (PCR). Among different farms the highest prevalence was recorded in
unorganized farms 45.53% (RUT) and 52.17% (PCR) in compared to organized farms
32.96% (RUT) and 37.10% (PCR). The presence of HLOs in different regions of the
stomach by RUT was recorded as Parsoesophagea (1.48%), Cardia (2.95%), Fundus
(15.27%), and Pylorus (20.27%). The maximum positivity was recorded in pylorus and
fundus region with 20.27% and 15.27% respectively. The presence of HLOs in different
grades of gastric macroscopic lesions was determined. The positivity of HLOs in different
grades of gastric macroscopic lesions recorded as: 1+ (Early or mild) (28.12%), 2+
(Severe) (37.03%), and 3+ (more severe+ ulcers) (56.89%). The maximum positive RUT
was detected in Grade 3+ (58.89%). HLOs were detected by brush cytology from the
mucosal surface satined with Giemsa and Gram’s stain in 22.66% and 16.74% of the
samples respectively. The gross lesions of gastritis were recorded in 203 (58%) stomachs
out of 350 pig carcasses examined. The present investigation recorded early or mild
gastric lesions (1+) in 31.53%, severe lesion (2+) in 39.90% and more severe lesions and
ulceration (3+) in 28.57% of the stomach examined grossly. The recorded lesions were
various grades of lesions as thickening of the gastric wall, corrugation of the gastric folds,
congestion and haemorrhages, necrosis and sloughing of the gastric mucosa, erosions and
ulceration in the parsoesophagea as well as glandular regions of the stomach. The
frequency of various histopathological lesions in affected stomach were Hyperkeratosis
(17.28%), Parakeratosis (14.81%), Epithelial hyperplasia (44.44%), Glandular
degeneration (60.49%), Vacuolation of glandular epithelium (56.79%), Lymhoid follicle
(62.96%), Inflamatory cell infiltration (Neutrophil (32.09%), Lymphocyte (45.67%),
Eosinophil (23.45%), Macrophage (28.39), Plasma cell (25.92%), Sloughing & erosion
(53.08%), Ulcer, Congestion and Haemorrhages (39.50%), Glandular abscess (9.87%),
Fibrosis (4.93%), Metaplasia and Dysplasia (3.70%), and Detection of Helicobacter
(9.87%). Ultrastructurally, Helicobacters with bacillary morphology, inflammatory cells
on the gastric mucosa and biofilm formation by coccoid form of Helicobacters were
detected. PCR analysis of the gastric samples showed the presence of Helicobacter spp in
37 (45.67%) and Helicobacter suis in 17 (20.98%) samples. PCR detection rate was found
to be higher from the pylorus and fundic region and severe gastric lesions of the stomach.
To study the zoonotic potential of Helicobacters, a total of 30 saliva samples from pig
farmers were subjected for PCR out of which Helicobacter spp. was detected in 8 numbers
of samples. Further, Helicobacter suis (2) and Helicobacter pylori (3). Phylogenetic
analysis revealed that Helicobacter suis detected from pig handlers and pig stomach
samples shares above 99% identity suggesting zoonotic transmissions of Helicobacters
from pig to human.