[Histonet] Re: H. Pylori Testing

[Bob Richmond]

Nancy Stedman observes:

>>I believe IHC is more sensitive than the special stains too. One caveat
for anyone who works with veterinary samples - the H. pylori antibodies are
specific for H. pylori, so I have not found these antibodies to be helpful
for evaluating other species with helicobacter-associated gastritis. One
exception is the antibody made by Biocare which seems to stain some of the
feline helicobacters, and maybe others too (have not tried).<<

As far as I know, the only Helicobacter species other than H. pylori
reported as a human pathogen is H. heilmanii - I've seen it exactly once,
with a dye method - supposedly more common in Japan, often with a history
of close association with cats. Supposedly H. heilmanii marks with the
commercial IHC antibodies also.

I don't think the data exist to show that IHC is more sensitive than the
older dye methods, in terms of detecting clinical disease. As I noted
before, the IHC is much faster for the pathologist to read. Also, many
pathologists report any bacteria seen with dye methods as H. pylori,
including the bacteria brought down by the endoscope from the oral cavity.

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Maryville TN