Research overview: Helicobacter-associated gastritis in cheetahs

Captive cheetahs suffer unusually high rates of chronic gastritis associated with Helicobacter infection, a condition far more severe than in most other felids and a significant cause of morbidity in breeding programs. This overview surveys research into cheetah gastritis, the role of Helicobacter species, and the leading hypothesis that the cheetah’s limited genetic diversity, particularly in immune genes, produces an exaggerated, damaging inflammatory response to a common bacterium. It examines the contrast with free-ranging cheetahs, which appear less affected, implicating captivity-related stress, and the implications for husbandry. The synthesis connects conservation genetics, immunology and infectious disease. It aims to help readers understand why a widespread stomach bacterium becomes a serious chronic disease specifically in captive cheetahs, echoing the broader theme of genetic uniformity amplifying disease in this species.