Advanced Research Journal of Microbiology ISSN: 1718-3499, Vol. 5 (3), pp. 120-126. April, 2018. © Advanced Scholars Journals

Full length Research paper 

Histological lesions and changes on cell proliferation and E-cadherin expression on livers of naturally Helicobacter spp. infected dogs

*Baccarin R. Saverin, Sérgio Carlos and Roberto Jobim

Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil.

*Corresponding Author. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 12 March, 2018

Abstract

Infection of the gastric mucosa by Helicobacter spp. is an important cause of gastric diseases and neoplasms in humans and animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of Helicobacter spp. in the livers of dogs with nonspecific histological changes. The association between Helicobacter spp. infection, hepatocyte proliferation and E-cadherin expression was also evaluated. Liver samples from 39 dogs were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify Helicobacter spp. Hepatocyte proliferation was evaluated by the AgNOR method. The Helicobacter genus was detected in seven (17.9%) animals that exhibited liver histological changes. Twenty-six animals were PCR negative and exhibited microscopical changes, while six animals demonstrated no histological changes and were PCR negative. Infected animals showed a significant increase in liver lesional score and the area of NORs compared to non-infected dogs. E-cadherin expression showed no significant difference among groups. The results suggest that Helicobacter spp. and hepatocytes injury in the livers of dogs could contribute to increased cell proliferation, thereby influencing hepatocarcinogenesis.

Key words: Dog, helicobacter, liver, AgNOR, immunohistochemistry, E-cadherin.