Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
07:43
Mouse Models Of Helicobacter Infection And Gastric Pathologies
Published on: October 18, 2018
Helicobacter canis bacteraemia in a 7-month-old child
Jørgen Prag1, Jens Blom, Karen A Krogfelt
1Department of Clinical Microbiology, Viborg County Hospital, Viborg, Denmark.
FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
|June 15, 2007
Summary
Helicobacter canis was identified in a child
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Helicobacter species are increasingly recognized as human pathogens.
- Early identification and characterization are crucial for effective treatment.
Observation:
- A 7-month-old girl presented with intermittent fever.
- Blood cultures initially showed slow growth of small gram-negative spiral rods.
- Specialized pediatric blood culture bottles enhanced detection.
Findings:
- Biochemical, phenotypic, and 16S rRNA analyses confirmed Helicobacter canis.
- H. canis was successfully isolated and identified from the patient's blood.
- Optimal growth conditions required microaerophilic atmospheres and specific media.
Implications:
- This case highlights the need for improved blood culture systems for detecting fastidious bacteria like Helicobacter.
- Further research is required to understand the clinical significance of H. canis and its zoonotic potential, particularly from feline sources.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Bacterial Gastroenteritis
Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
01:27Peptic Ulcer
Peptic ulcers are erosive lesions of the gastric or duodenal lining, most commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This Gram-negative, helical bacterium has adapted to survive the stomach’s acidic environment by producing urease, which converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia neutralizes gastric acid in the bacterium’s immediate environment, allowing colonization of the gastric mucosa. H. pylori attaches to mucus-secreting epithelial cells, penetrates the mucus...
01:28Amebiasis
Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:26Gastritis II: Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of gastritis begins with the colonization of the stomach lining by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This bacterium spreads mainly via the oral-oral route through saliva or shared utensils, and can also be transmitted in overcrowded or unhygienic environments through contaminated water, despite its brief survival outside the body.ColonizationOnce ingested, H. pylori enters the stomach and begins colonization by navigating through the mucus layer lining the stomach wall. It...
01:16Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy
Helicobacter pylori, a resilient gram-negative bacterium, can thrive in the stomach's harsh, acidic environment. Infection with H. pylori leads to a cascade of events within the stomach lining. One of the critical disruptions caused by this bacterium is the interference with somatostatin production, a hormone responsible for regulating acid secretion. This interference tips the balance, escalating acid secretion and diminishing bicarbonate levels. This imbalance compromises the defensive...