Research article summary (published 30 May 2005):

Comparison of Helicobacter spp. genetic sequences in wild and captive seals, and gulls.

Full Abstract

Helicobacter species are widely distributed in the gastrointestinal system of humans and many animal taxa. Investigations of natural infections are essential to elucidating their role within the host. The feces of fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus and sea lions Neophoca cinerea from 3 separate captive populations, as well as a wild colony from Kangaroo Island, Australia, were examined for the occurrence of Helicobacter spp. The feces from several wild silver gulls Larus novahollandiae were also investigated. As detected by PCR, 18 of 21 samples from captive and 12 of 16 samples from wild seals were positive for Helicobacter spp. Three species were identified in these animals. Whilst one possibly novel type was identified from wild fur seals, the majority of wild and captive individuals had the same species. This species also occurred in more than 1 seal type and in silver gulls, and shared a 98.1 to 100% identity to other Helicobacter spp. from harp seals and sea otters. A similar sequence type to species identified from cetaceans was also detected in several captive seals. This study reports for the first time the presence of Helicobacter spp. in wild and captive seals and demonstrates the diversity and broad-host range of these organisms in the marine host.

Author information

Author/s: Oxley, Andrew P A (AP); McKay, David B (DB);

Affiliation: National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia. andrew.oxley(-atsign-)dpi.vic.gov.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Diseases of aquatic organisms (Dis Aquat Organ), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Jun; vol 65 (issue 2) : pp 99-105

Dates: Created 2005/08/02; Completed 2005/09/21; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16060262, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Australia Base Sequence Charadriiformes - microbiology Cloning, Molecular Cluster Analysis DNA Primers Feces - microbiology Fur Seals - microbiology

Helicobacter - genetics Molecular Sequence Data New Zealand Phylogeny Polymerase Chain Reaction RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics Sea Lions - microbiology Sequence Analysis, DNA Species Specificity

Associated Chemicals: DNA Primers (0) ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S (0)

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