Urease Test in Horses: associations between positive test results and bacteria other than Helicobacter sp.

Authors

  • Maria Letícia Tescaro Piffer Pet Society
  • Luis Claudio Lopes Correia da Silva Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Cirurgia
  • André Luís do Valle De Zoppa Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Cirurgia
  • Nilson Roberti Benites Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal
  • Priscilla Anne Melville Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal
  • Cássia Cestari Delboni Polícia Montada do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Regimentro de Cavalaria Coronel Enyr Cony dos Santos
  • Aline de Matos Curvelo de Barros Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Clínica Médica
  • Carla Bargi Belli Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Clínica Médica

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2025.222055

Keywords:

Diagnosis, Gastric ulcer, Horses, Urease

Abstract

This study was designed to examine positivity rates of the urease test (UT) in gastric samples obtained from adult horses and to determine whether positive test results are associated with the presence of bacteria other than Helicobacter sp. Gastric content samples and biopsy specimens from the glandular and non glandular regions of the stomach were collected from 39 adult horses via gastroscopy. Samples were placed in tubes containing urease test medium and incubated in a water bath at 37 C for 24 h. Urease test-positive samples were submitted to bacterial culture and biochemical tests for potential isolation and identification of urease-producing bacteria. Positive UT results were obtained in eight horses. Laboratory analysis revealed the presence of Providencia sp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter amalonaticus, Edwardsiella tarda, Klebsiella oxytoca, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In conclusion, changes in urease test medium color after more than 12 h of incubation suggest the presence of bacteria other than Helicobacter sp. However, relationships between positive UT results, types of bacteria detected, and their role in the etiopathogenesis of gastric ulcers in horses remain to be determined.

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References

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Published

2025-03-26

Issue

Vol. 62 (2025)

Section

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How to Cite

1.
Piffer MLT, Silva LCLC da, De Zoppa AL do V, Benites NR, Melville PA, Delboni CC, et al. Urease Test in Horses: associations between positive test results and bacteria other than Helicobacter sp. Braz. J. Vet. Res. Anim. Sci. [Internet]. 2025 Mar. 26 [cited 2025 Mar. 31];62:e222055. Available from: https://revistas.usp.br/bjvras/article/view/222055