Background. The presence of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa used to be associated with gastritis and peptic ulcer. Helicobacter heilmannii is a similar but much less frequent and less known gastric pathogen. Methods and Results. We evaluated 1250 gastric biopsies. Helicobacteria were detected after silver impregnation. Helicobacter pylori was found in 62 %. In 3 cases (0.24 %), we found Helicobacter heilmannii. In one of the cases, also Helicobacter pylori was present. All patients had gastrointestinal symptoms and histological chronic active gastritis. Conclusions. Helicobacter heilmannii is an uncommon pathogen which appears to be a cause of gastric inflam- mation. It can be differentiated from Helicobacter pylori by routine histologic examination.

        Key words: chronic gastritis, Helicobacter heilmanni, Helicobacter pylori.