EN
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Candidatus Helicobacter suis (CHS) and other Helicobacter sp. different from Candidatus Helicobacter suis (non-Candidatus Helicobacter suis, non-CHS) infection on the number of endocrine G and D cells and G/D cells ratio in antral gastric mucosa in swine. Twenty nine stomachs were obtained from clinical healthy pigs about 6 months old and weighing approximately 100-120 kg after slaughter at abattoir located in central Poland. From each stomach samples of the antral gastric mucosa were taken for histopathology, and PCR examination for presence of Helicobacter genus and Candidatus Helicobacter suis. Samples for histopathology and immunohistochemistry were fixed in 10% buffered formalin. To reveal the expression of gastrin- and somatostatin-producing cells specific antibodies were used. Selected endocrine cells were counted in the midzone of pyloric glands, the results were expressed as a mean of the number of immunoreactive cells in one microscopic field, and as the ratio of gastrin to somatostatin cells (G/D). It can be concluded that some species of swine Helicobacter can alter the number of endocrine cells in gastric antral mucosa. Some of these alterations, for example increase the number of G cells, decrease of the D cells and especially increase of ratio G to D cells can be responsible for development of gastroesophageal ulcers in swine.