Periodontitis in Sheep: A Model for Human Periodontal Disease

Abstract

The use of sheep as a suitable animal model of destructive forms of human periodontal disease has been assessed from comparative radiological, histological, and serological investigations of sheep with and without periodontal disease. The results showed that, in sheep with priodontitis, bone resorption, collagen breakdown, degradation of blood capillary vessel walls, cellular infiltration of plasma cells, lymphocytes, and epithelial infiltration were significantly greater than in sheep without Periodontitis, and the features are similar to those in rapidly destructive forms of periodontal disease in man. The levels of serum IgG antibody reactive against B. gingivalis antigens (measured by ELISA) were significantly higher in sheep with Periodontitis than those without, similar to the association reported in some types of human periodontal diseases. These findings suggest that Periodontitis in sheep could represent a suitable animal experimental model for certain types of rapidly destructive human periodontal diseases.

Longitudinal quantification of the gingival crevicular fluid proteome during progression from gingivitis to periodontitis in a canine model

“…The insights gained here not only could give rise to a tool to assist veterinarians but can also shed light on progression of a disease common in the animal kingdom (Ismaiel et al. , Oz & Puleo ).…”

A Model of Spontaneous Periodontitis in the Miniature Goat

“…It has been reported that spontaneous periodontitis can occur in sheep 15‐18 . Moreover, the microflora of subgingival plaque in sheep have been associated with those in human periodontitis 19‐22 . However, most reports in sheep have considered the incisor, and few studies have considered the premolar and molar areas due to the large body sizes and difficulty of handling sheep.…”

Proteases augment the effects of lipopolysaccharide in rat gingiva

“…Animal model studies have provided important information about the periodontopathic bacteria‐mediated responses (1, 2). These studies of periodontal diseases have involved the use of such animals as non‐human primates (3), sheep (4), dogs (5), hamsters (6) and rats (7). Experimental periodontitis induced by microorganisms in rats has been found to be histologically similar to periodontitis in man; symptoms include pocket formation and bone loss (8).…”