[Is Helicobacter pylori infection a zoonosis?]

On the basis of papers review there are presented the possibilities of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in animals and the route of transmission. The discovery of bacteria has changed our approach to the etiopathogenesis and treatment of some digestive tract diseases. The prevalence of H. pylori in some populations and socioeconomic factors confirms the man-to-man mode of transmission with a human being as a main reservoir. There was confirmed the correlation between the stomach colonization of H. pylori in some animals, particularly those living in a human environment, and the route of transmission. Besides many studies performed on domestic animals and primate monkeys it is not clear, whether H. pylori infection can be accepted as a zoonosis. Many investigators confirmed the presence of bacteria in the animal stomach. There is a lack of data, whether the bacteria coming from other sources than food infected by the man could colonize the stomach, and whether it can cause the gastric mucosa changes by the viable forms presented in feces. If scientists are still interested in H. pylori the mentioned problems will probably be elucidated.