This study was performed to detect morphological changes of the gastric mucosa according to the prevalence of helicobacters in the gastric mucosa of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) from the Small animal clinic of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Latvia within 2008 year period. Mucosal samples were taken from several places of cardiac, fundic and pyloric gland region of the stomach to detect helicobacters with light histological examination. Seventeen dogs of eighteen sampled animals showed presence of tightly spiraled helicobacters. Compared to gastric regions our study showed significantly higher prevalence of helicobacters in the cardiac and fundic gland region than in the less effected pyloric gland region of the stomach. Histological examination also showed the depth of location of helicobacters in gastric pits and deeper glandular epithelium of the gastric mucosa in different regions of the stomach. In the pyloric gland region helicobacters are located deeper in the gastric pits and glandular epithelium than in the gastric mucosa of cardiac and fundic gland region Morphological changes of gastric mucosa was divided into 4 groups: 1) mucosa without morphological changes, 2) mucosal hyperemia, 3) mucosal erosions, and 4) mucosal polips. Morphological changes especially mucosal polips are significantly more in the pyloric gland region than in the cardiac and fundic gland region. The amount of morphological changes in the helicobacter positive and negative samples were not significantly different in the cardiac and fundic gland region, but in the pyloric gland region morphological changes of the gastric mucosa are significantly more in the helicobacter positive samples than in the helicobacter negative samples.

This study was done to evaluate the prevalence and colonization density of helicobacters in the gastric mucosa of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Mucosal samples were taken from several places of cardiac, fundic and pyloric gland region of the stomach to detect helicobacters with urease test, brush cytology, and light histological examination. Fourteen dogs of fifteen sampled animals showed positive urease test and the presence of tightly spiraled helicobacters. Positive urease test was observed in 80.4% of all examined samples. Helicobacters were detected in 82.7% of all examined samples by brush cytology and 80.8% of all examined samples by histological examination. Compared to gastric regions, in all employed detection methods have been showed significantly higher prevalence of helicobacters in cardiac and fundic gland region than in the less effected pyloric gland region of the stomach. Histological examination showed the location and colonization density of the bacteria at the superficial epithelium, gastric pits, and deep glandular epithelium of the gastric mucosa in different regions of the stomach. Colonization density of bacteria was evaluated in 4 groups: as absent, mild, moderate, and severe colonization density of helicobacters. Occurrence of helicobacters in the cardiac and fundic gland region showed mild and moderate colonization density of helicobacters at the superficial epithelium and at the gastric pits of the gastric mucosa. Colonization density of spiral-shaped bacteria between the deep glandular epithelium was more pronounced in the pyloric gland region than in the cardiac and fundic gland regions of the gastric mucosa in the domestic dogs.

There are several unique features in the anatomy of the stomach in African ostrich in comparison with other birds. The goal of this study was to determine changes in the main morphometric parameters and histological features of gastric mucosa in ostrich chickens from the 38th day of embryonal development until 60 days of age. For the study, 6 embryos (38th day of development) and 36 chicks (1, 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days post hatching; 6 chicks per time point) of both sexes were obtained from African ostrich farm in Latvia during May - October, 2009. Tissue samples were investigated in Preclinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The total area of proventricular mucosa (cm2) and surface area of deep glands (cm2) was measured. Tissue sections for histological assessment were stained with: hematoxylin and eosin and alcian-blue pH 2.5 - periodic acid – Schiff reaction. Thickness of proventricular and ventricular mucosa, depth of proventricular superficial glands as well as surface area of parenchyma occupied by deep glands were measured in histologic sections. As the chick age increased, there were changes in the ratio of areas occupied by proventricular superficial and deep glands with relative decrease in area occupied by deep glands. Proventricular deep glands developed rapidly after hatching; at the age of 30 days deep glands histologically resembled glandular structure of adult birds. Gastric mucosal epithelial cells of 38 days old ostrich embryos and of just hatched ostrich chicks contained neutral, acidic, and mixed mucopolysaccharides. Meanwhile, in the pyloric region of ventriculus acidic mucopolysaccharides predominated.

Stomach, as a part of the digestive canal, is important in the metabolic processes of the organism which affects the bird’s general health condition, its growth and development, consequently also the increase of the body weight. The aim of the research was to find out the dynamics of weight, length, and area of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) stomach and its parts in postnatal ontogenesis from 4 to 12 months of age. The absolute weight of stomach, length of the greater curvature of the stomach glandular part, diameter of the muscular part, thickness of stomach wall was determined. To find out the differences of the mean values between various age groups, ANOVA and Post Hoch tests were used. The increase of the stomach absolute weight continued throughout the postnatal ontogenesis period, but the stomach weight in relation to the ostrich body weight decreased, especially rapidly at the age of 6 and 8 months. At the same time, proportions of the absolute and relative weight of the stomach glandular and muscular part changed. The length of the greater curvature of the stomach glandular part, length of the deep gland region and diameter of the stomach muscular part increased during the whole observed period of ontogenesis; moreover, these parameters increased more rapidly from 6 to 8 months of age. The area of the stomach glandular and muscular part mucosa increased throughout the observed period of ontogenesis. The area of the superficial gland region in all age groups was larger than the area of the deep gland region.