Gastric ulcer associated with a Helicobacter-like organism in a cougar (Felis concolor).

A 12-year-old captive female cougar (Felis concolor) died following perforation of a gastric ulcer. Histologically, erosions and ulcers were present in the antral area of the stomach. Fibroplasia and infiltrates of neutrophils bordered the ulcers. Modified Steiner silver stain revealed numerous tightly coiled helical bacteria. The bacteria stained positively with a rabbit polyclonal anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody. Morphology, location, and positive immunohistochemical staining suggests that the organism is a Helicobacter.