Etiology:  Helicobacters are Gram-negative, microaerophilic spiral motile bacteria.  In naturally occurring infections, Helicobacter hepaticus and Helicobacter bilis have been identified in the feces.  Helicobacter pylori is used in experimental infections to study human disease.

Incidence:  Natural infection with Helicobacter is uncommon.

Transmission:  Transmission is via the fecal-oral route for natural infection.

Clinical Signs:  There are no clinical signs in naturally occurring infections.

Pathology:  There are no lesions associated with naturally occurring infections.  In experimental infections with H. pylori, lesions include chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, gastrointestinal metaplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma [2].

2.            Percy, D.H., Barthold, Stephen W., Pathology Of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits. 3 ed2007, 2121 State Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50014, USA: Blackwell Publishing Professional.