Investigation of Helicobacter pylori contamination in broiler chickens in Golestan Province, Iran

Shateri, Saeed; Esmaili, Elham; Seifi, Saeed

doi:10.22034/cjvs.2026.576769.1060

Investigation of Helicobacter pylori contamination in broiler chickens in Golestan Province, Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Saeed Shateri ¹

Elham Esmaili ¹

Saeed Seifi ²

¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine. Bob.C, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran.

² Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran.

10.22034/cjvs.2026.576769.1060

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in broiler chickens processed in Golestan Province, Iran, and to evaluate its potential public health significance. A total of 240 samples were collected from the subcutaneous tissue of the neck and thigh regions of slaughtered broiler chickens (10 samples from each of 24 farms). Samples were cultured on Brucella agar supplemented with 7% defibrinated sheep blood and selective antibiotics under microaerophilic conditions. Colonies with morphological and biochemical characteristics of H. pylori were further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 16S rRNA gene using species-specific primers. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test with a significance level set at p < 0.05. H. pylori was detected in 8.3% (2/24) of the broiler flocks sampled. The presence of H. pylori was confirmed by PCR assay, showing a 133 bp amplicon corresponding to the 16S rRNA gene. The detection of H. pylori highlights poultry as a potential source of zoonotic transmission, likely linked to poor hygienic conditions during slaughter and processing. These findings underscore the need for stricter biosecurity measures and monitoring of poultry products to mitigate the risk of H. pylori contamination and subsequent human infection.

Keywords

Chicken

Foodborne contamination

Helicobacter pylori

PCR

Zoonosis

Subjects