Isolation and identification of Helicobacter pylori in people having contact with pets

Introduction: Gastric ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori is one of the common diseases in humans, which is transmitted through eating and drinking. This bacterium has the ability to settle in the stomach of some animal species, including dogs and cats. In some cases, the carrier animals are the source of infection for humans. The present study aimed to assess the amount of Helicobacter pylori infection in people having contact with pets, and the pets themselves in Isfahan. Material & Methods: To dis end, 115 fecal samples were taken from the owners of domestic dogs and cats and microbial culture and polymerase chain reaction tests were performed to identify Helicobacter pylori. Results: The results indicated that 36% of domestic dog owners, 80% of domestic cat owners, and 8% of dogs themselves were infected. In addition, no positive cases of infection were observed in cats. In the chi square test (Pearson's test), the infection of domestic dogs and cats showed a significant relationship with the infection of their owners (P