Intestinal helicobacters

The genus Helicobacter represents an expanding genus with 20 species formally validated by international rules of nomenclature and several other species awaiting formal designation. Helicobacter spp. inhabit the gastrointestinal tracts of birds and mammals and have been subdivided as gastric or intestinal (enterohepatic) organisms. Intestinal helicobacters comprise the majority of established Helicobacter species and reside in the intestines or hepatobiliary tracts of animals and humans. Intestinal helicobacters may be isolated from human stool specimens in cases of gastroenteritis or blood cultures when bacteremias occur. Not uncommonly, these organisms are urease negative and may represent diagnostic challenges when infections by Campylobacter spp. are considered. Although uncommonly isolated in today's microbiology laboratory, intestinal helicobacters represent an emerging group of potentially important pathogenic and commensal members of the gut microbiota.