What is the zoonotic potential of Helicobacter spp infections in animals?

• A. Zoonotic but low concern
• B. Highly zoonotic and common in households
• C. Not zoonotic at all
• D. Zoonotic only to birds

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is the level of risk that animal Helicobacter infections pose to humans. There is some zoonotic potential—a few animal-associated Helicobacter species can infect people—but the overall public health impact is low. In humans, the common culprit is H. pylori, which is primarily transmitted between people rather than from animals. Other species found in animals, such as those in pigs or cats, have been linked to human infections on rare occasions, but these events are uncommon. In everyday household settings, transmission from pets or other animals to people is not a frequent driver of disease, so the concern is low. It isn’t accurate to say there’s no zoonotic potential, nor is it correct to describe it as highly zoonotic or limited only to birds—the occasional human infections from animal-associated Helicobacter exist, but they don’t represent a common or major route of transmission.