Review for 10.1186/1471-230X-14-61 (2014)

Reviewer's report
Title:Study of Helicobacter pylori genotype status in cows, sheep, goats and
human beings
Version: 2Date:15 October 2013
Reviewer: Maria Pina P Dore
Reviewer's report:
General Comments
Beside the established reservoir of the human gastric mucosa, several animals,
mostly living in the human environment, have been reported to harbor H. pylori in
their stomach. Indirect evidence for a zoonotic source comes from studies
showing a higher prevalence of antibodies against H. pylori in abattoir workers,
such as butchers, slaughterers, and veterinarians. In addition, in previous studies
H. pylori was cultured from the abomasum of sheep, suggesting that sheep and
sheep dogs (living in contact with sheep) could play the main role acting as
reservoir and/or vehicle in the chain of the epidemiological model of H. pylori
infection as an antropozoonosis.
The study by Hassan Momtaz et al confirm previous observation of a high
prevalence of H. pylori infection in sheep (16%). They also reported a prevalence
among cows, of 3% (16%) and in human of 82%. 92.9-98.5% homology between
sheep and
human samples was found. These data reinforced the hypothesis of a zoonosis
for H. pylori infection, at least, in specific environmental niches
Overall the study performed by Hassan Momtaz et al is interesting and could be
suitable for publication in BMC Gastroenterology Journal. However there are
major concerns.
Comments
The manuscript is not very well presented, several grammar mistakes need to be
fixed and English style improved:
-Page 2; line 9 in the abstract: This cross sectional study performed …. Need to
be This cross sectional study was performed.
-Page 2; line 10 in the abstract: PCR assays performed to identify ………… Need
to be PCR assays was performed to identify…………
-Page 2; line 19 in the abstract: There was a high ……….suggest, change with
suggesting
Page 3, line 8: the highest prevalence of H. pylori infection was demonstrated in
Sardinian shepherds. Please add reference.
Page 3 line 17: the sentence: Based on the comparison of the three completed
genomes of H. pylori, six genes encoding outer-membrane proteins (babB, oipA,
hopZ sabA, sabB and babC) are thought to undergo phase variation. III) need
references.
Page 4; line 17: ………the sample from antral part of the stomach………Please
specify which part: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, or abomasums!
Page 4, line 20: For analysis of the isolates from human…………..The authors
did not cultured H. pylori from gastric human and/or animal samples. Because of
that they could not write about isolates!!
Page 4; line 21: …from the antrum of patients with dyspepsia symptoms …..
specify if patients were shepherds, if they have direct contact with animals or
what!
Page 4, line 26: and stored until further investigation. Please specify how the
samples were stored.
Page 6, line 13: Totally 600 ruminants and 200 human gastric samples were
enrolled ….. please change enrolled with collected.
Page 4, line 14: According to histopathic examinations……… Please change the
word histopathic
Page 4, line 16: According to gastroendescopy……..Please fix the word
gastroendescopy
Page 4, line 14 and 18: ………gastric inflammations Please specify the kind of
gastritis in animals and humans.
Page 7, line 27: healthy “resembling” cows, sheep, goats and human……….what
the authors mean with healthy “resembling”??
Page 9, line 12: According to histological examinations, clinical
manifestations……… Clinical manifestation are NOT histological examinations!
Please ri-write the sentence.
Page 15; table 1: as previously, the authors did NOT isolated the H. pylori
strains.
Page 16; table 2: idem
Page 17; table 3: idem
Page 18; table 3: idem. The authors analyzed H. pylori DNA extracted from
tissue and not from isolates!
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests