Treatment and Determination of the Presence of Helicobacter in Shelter dogs by Faecal Antigen Testing and Enzyme–Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Abstract

In order to determine the presence of Helicobacter in shelter Dogs in Yozgat Province of Türkiye by fecal antigen test and ELISA and to treat the infection during the initial period. As the material of the study, faecal antigen test, faecal samples for ELISA, blood samples for haematological and biochemical analyses were collected from 82 dogs in Sorgun animal shelter where food and water bowls were kept in compartments. Infected and control groups were formed according to the results of the fecal antigen test. As a result of fecal antigen test, 6 of 82 animals were antigen positive and 76 were antigen negative. According to ELISA analysis; 53 dogs were antibody positive and 29 dogs were antibody negative. No significance was determined between the groups in terms of age and gender in both tests (P>0.05). Dogs in the infected group were treated according to a protocol known as triple therapy, which is used in Helicobacter infections. WBC, NEU and MON counts, RDW and % NEU values of the infected group were higher in the hematological examination, while the % LYM values were significantly lower than the control group. In the biochemical examination, the concentrations TNF–α (21.17 pg·mL-1 vs. 48.21 pg·mL-1), IL–1β (73.41 pg·mL-1 vs. 37.60 pg·mL-1) (P<0.01) and CRP (644.0 mg·dL-1 vs. 234.01 mg·dL-1) (P<0.001) were found to be higher than those of the control group. As a result, it was determined in the study that the presence of Helicobacter was intense in dogs that were in one–to–one contact with each other, including the feeding of dogs in shelter conditions. With the methods used in the study, it is predicted that the presence of Helicobacter can be detected and treated in the early stages, thus preventing transmission of Helicobacter in dogs.