Helicobacter pullorum: A potential hurdle emerging pathogen for public health

Emerging zoonotic pathogens gain more attention due to the adverse effects on human and animal's health and productivity. One of these zoonotic pathogens is Helicobacter pullorum (H. pullorum) which was firstly diagnosed in 1994. This bacterium is enterpathogenic in poultry and contaminates the carcasses meat during processing or improper handling. Human can get H. pullorum infection mainly through mishandling of contaminated carcasses or consumption of undercooked meat. Infection of H. pullorum in human is associated with gastroenteritis and hepatitis. Diagnosis of H. pullorum is very difficult as misdiagnosis with other enteric zoonotic pathogens like Campylobacter and other Helicobacter species is common. Unlike other types of Helicobacter, there are little information and few researches regarding prevalence, pathogenesis, diagnosis and control of H. pullorum infection either animals or human. Accordingly, this review article was prepared to give more details about H. pullorum sources of infection, pathogenicity, incidence in poultry and human as well as its treatment.