The role of Campylobacter spp. in chronic enteropathy in dogs

The aim of the study is to identify Campylobacter species in a group of patients with chronic gastrointestinal problems and to investigate the relationship between the presence of Campylobacter spp. in stool samples and as well as the severity of chronic enteropathy. Twenty-six dogs with chronic gastrointestinal problems were included in the prospective study. Each research subject had their stomach, duodenum, ileum, and colon examined endoscopically. A histopathological examination of the obtained biopsy samples was then performed afterwards, other potential diseases were excluded. Stool samples were collected and then examined for the presence of Campylobacter spp. To evaluate the relationship between Campylobacter spp. occurrence and the intensity of chronic enteropathy, patients were divided into two groups; animals in the first group presented with no to mild inflammation whereas research subjects in the second group suffered from moderate to severe inflammation. Subsequently, the patients were divided based on positive or negative test results for Campylobacter spp. cultures. No statistically significant relationship between the presence of Campylobacter spp. in stool samples and chronic enteropathy was found. In contrast to other previously published papers, our study showed a lower occurrence of Campylobacter upsaliensis.