Helicobacter equorum is highly prevalent in foals
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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Mouse Models Of Helicobacter Infection And Gastric Pathologies
Published on: October 18, 2018
H Moyaert1, F Haesebrouck, J Dewulf
1Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Hilde.Moyaert@UGent.be
Abstract:
Faecal samples of sixty-six 3-day- to 6-month-old foals were screened for Helicobacter equorum DNA by means of a PCR amplifying a 1074 bp fragment of the 23S rRNA gene with primers specific for this enterohepatic Helicobacter species. H. equorum DNA was demonstrated in faeces from 28.6% of the less than 1-month-old foals, while 67.8% of foals from 1 to 6 months of age tested positive. In a previous study, H. equorum was demonstrated in faeces of 0.8-7.9% of adult horses. These results indicate that the prevalence of H. equorum in horses differs with the age of the investigated horse population. The organism seems highly prevalent in foals between 1 and 6 months of age but the possible association with intestinal disease in this age group needs further investigation.
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