Overview
Helicobacter infection in cats is a type of condition that is caused by a genus of spiral shaped bacterial named Helicobacter. These bacteria have the unique ability to survive in the inhospitable environments of the stomach and lower GI tract of certain mammals. Once the bacteria are in the digestive tract, they use their spiral shape to burrow into the sensitive surrounding tissues. As a result, a Helicobacter infection can cause gastritis and gastritis type symptoms to occur in cats infected with the bacteria.
There are a number of different types of Helicobacter bacteria that can cause an infection in cats. Two of the most commonly diagnosed Helicobacter bacteria in cats are the Helicobacter pylori and the Helicobacter felis. Helicobacter pylori bacteria are also known to cause gastritis and ulcers in people as well.
Helicobacter infection is not easy to diagnose. Bacterial cultures can be useful, but some types of Helicobacter are very difficult to culture. In most cases if a cat is displaying symptoms of Helicobacter infection, without any other explainable causes, treatment is begun without a definitive diagnosis. If a diagnosis is necessary, examining the stomach and intestines using endoscopic instruments are often a useful diagnostic approach.
Sign of Helicobacter Infection
In many documented cases, a cat can carry a Helicobacter infection for years without ever showing any symptoms. In rare cases, a Helicobacter infection can cause symptoms which include:
- Sporadic or intermittent vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
- Occasional diarrhea
It is not known why some cats are unaffected by the bacteria, while other cats experience gastritis symptoms if they become infected with Helicobacter.
Prognosis
There are combination medical treatments that can be used to control a Helicobacter infection in cat; however, completely eliminating the bacteria population from the cat’s digestive tract through medical treatments is not always possible. Many cats that receive Helicobacter medications test positive again for the bacteria in as little as six weeks after the treatments were completed. Fortunately gastritis symptoms can be controlled through combination prescription medications.