Determination of Helicobacter Infections with C-14 Urea Breath Test (C-14 UBT) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in Dogs and Treatment

It was aimed to determine that if C-14 UBT (C-14 Urea Breath Test) application as a "Gold Standard" in the human practice for diagnosing Helicobacter infections could also be used in an easy, practical, and a reliable method in the veterinary practice. Three groups were allocated in the study. Dogs (n=41) were detected as clinically healthy in their physical examinations were grouped as healthy (Group I). Dogs (n=32) had clinical symptoms of vomiting after feeding, anorexia, epigastric pain during abdominal palpation were grouped as diseased and these diseased dogs (Group II) that were treated grouped as treatment (n=32) (Group III). Helicobacter staining, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and C-14 UBT were compared for diagnosis of Helicobacteriosis before and after therapy. Based on the results of the present study C-14 UBT was found 2 times more reliable when compared to PCR and 65 times more reliable than Helicobacter staining technique. Sensitivity for C-14 UBT, PCR and Helicobacter staining technique was found as 96.55%, 93.75%, and 59.38%, respectively. Moreover specificity of the C-14 UBT, PCR and Helicobacter staining technique was detected as 97.73%, 97.56% and 92.68%, respectively. Consequently, it was thought that C-14 UBT test could be used as a reliable method in veterinary practice.