Evaluation of the Number of Gastric Mucoid Epitheliocytes and Parietal Cells in Relation to the Amount of Helicobacteria in the Fundic Gland Region of Domestic Dogs (Canis Familiaris)

This study was done to evaluate the number of gastric mucoid epitheliocytes and parietal cells in relation to the amount of helicobacteria in the fundic gland region of 30 domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) Gastric mucosa samples were taken from the fundic gland region in eight strictly determined places to detect helicobacteria in 10 microscopic visual fields by histological examination, to find out the quantity of helicobacteria at the superficial epithelium, in gastric pits, and in fundic glands by classifying it as absent, mild, moderate, and severe, as well as to evaluate the number of mucoid epitheliocytes of the gastric superficial–pit epithelium and of the parietal cells of fundic glands. Out of all examined 2400 microscopic visual fields, mild and moderate amounts of helicobacteria localizing mainly at the superficial epithelium and in gastric pits were detected in 69.0–77.5% of cases, and only in around 20% of cases they were found in different amounts deeper into the fundic glands. The number of mucoid epitheliocytes (199±20 cells in one visual field) was only slightly larger in places with a severe amount of helicobacteria compared to places with no helicobacteria (195±16 mucoid epitheliocytes in one visual field). Also the number of parietal cells in the fundic glands did not differ markedly among the places with different amounts of helicobacteria; however, in places with a severe amount of helicobacteria, parietal cell count tended to decrease to 76±8 cells in one visual field, but in places free from helicobacteria there were 83±9 parietal cells in one visual field.