Pathology of chronic ovine periodontitis

Abstract

Periodontitis is an inflammatory process of infectious origin affecting the teeth and their supporting structures, causing significant economic losses and reducing animal welfare. Bacteria in the gingival biofilm are one of the main factors in initiating inflammatory lesions. Bacteria act directly on tissues or indirectly through substances that cause tissue damage. Studies on the etiopathogenesis of periodontitis in Brazilian sheep herds are scarce. The present study aimed to characterize histologically periodontal lesions of culled sheep from the Brazilian breed, Santa Inês. Periodontal lesions, such as periodontal pockets containing plant tissue and bacteria, replacement of the periodontal ligament by connective tissue and inflammatory cells, superficial pustules, hydropic epithelial degeneration, and epithelium hyperplasia, were observed. Submucosal changes were characterized by granulation tissue, edema, swelling of the endothelial cells, bacteria, and predominantly perivascular lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate. In the alveolar bone, osteoclastic resorption and bone apposition were observed. This study revealed subacute to chronic inflammation, alveolar bone resorption, and cortical bone apposition in ovine periodontitis. Thus, these findings can contribute to the evolution of knowledge about the etiopathogenesis of ovine periodontitis and, possibly, the development of measures to control the disease.

Periodontitis Disease in Farmed Ruminants—Current State of Research

“…In periodontitis, lesions are present in both hard and soft tissue. The cells forming the gingival epithelium are swollen and vacuolated [35,36]. In addition to changes in epithelial cells, inflammation is accompanied by a local accumulation of submucosal lymphoplasmatic inflammation and the presence of macrophages [36].…”

“…The cells forming the gingival epithelium are swollen and vacuolated [35,36]. In addition to changes in epithelial cells, inflammation is accompanied by a local accumulation of submucosal lymphoplasmatic inflammation and the presence of macrophages [36]. The contents of the periodontal pockets include food debris, a high number of neutrophils, and bacteria [36].…”

“…In addition to changes in epithelial cells, inflammation is accompanied by a local accumulation of submucosal lymphoplasmatic inflammation and the presence of macrophages [36]. The contents of the periodontal pockets include food debris, a high number of neutrophils, and bacteria [36]. This causes loss of tooth attachment, increased tooth mobility, and gingival atrophy resulting in the formation of gingival pockets, and loss of collagen and bone [26,35,36].…”

“…The contents of the periodontal pockets include food debris, a high number of neutrophils, and bacteria [36]. This causes loss of tooth attachment, increased tooth mobility, and gingival atrophy resulting in the formation of gingival pockets, and loss of collagen and bone [26,35,36]. Changes in bone tissue consist of marked remodeling and increased numbers of osteoclasts [35].…”

Co‐occurrence of periodontal lesions and dental wear in incisor and masticatory teeth in two sheep flocks in Brazil

“…These diseases have a progressive and cumulative evolution, with successive episodes of exacerbation and remission of their precursor forms 12 . As the diseases progress to periodontitis, they can cause inflammation, periodontal pocket formation, bone resorption, loss of connective attachment to the periodontal ligament and ultimately, tooth mobility and premature exfoliation 6,13–16 . Such diseases have been reported in various biomes in Brazil 4,17,18 and are likely responsible for significant economic losses in the sheep industry in the country.…”