The occurrence of Treponema spp. in gingival plaque from dogs with varying degree of periodontal disease

Abstract

Periodontal disease is common in dogs and is initiated by gingival plaque composed of several hundred bacterial species. Some of these species have specifically been pointed out as potential periodontal pathogens, such as Treponema spp. Treponema spp. are difficult to culture and therefore the majority have been detected by culture-independent methods, such as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). This leaves many Treponema spp. uncharacterized and unnamed. In this study, treponemes were investigated in gingival plaque from dogs with varying degree of periodontal disease with the aim to describe their occurrence and diversity in dogs. The methods used were culture, phase-contrast microscopy, PCR targeting the 16SrRNA-tRNAIle intergenic spacer region (ISR2), sequencing of the ISR2 and phylogenetic analysis. Treponema spp. were detected in samples from 10 out of 11 dogs and isolates were obtained from six dogs. Both healthy and periodontitis affected dogs were Treponema positive. Phylogenetic analysis, based on ISR2 sequences, revealed a large diversity of treponemes in the study population that were found to be distributed mainly in two groups, corresponding to the human oral treponeme phylogroups II (Treponema denticola) and IV (Treponema maltophilum) genetic groups. They were generally more distantly related to other treponemes in these groups. Treponemes from dogs with periodontitis and dogs with mild gingivitis without periodontitis did not differ in any obvious way. The results indicate that several phylotypes of oral treponemes are common in dogs regardless of periodontal status.

Dental Biofilm as Etiological Agent of Canine Periodontal Disease

“…The establishment of a microorganism as a true pathogen should be based on two main levels of evidence: (1) the organism should be present in higher prevalence and/or levels in disease than in health, and (2) its suppression or elimination should reduce or stop disease progression [39]. In human, the presence of three species of Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria within subgingival biofilm, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia, described by Socransky et al as the "red complex," show a strong association to periodontitis, and some studies have indicated their involvement also in dogs [40]. There are many others candidates as human periodontal pathogens, including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Parvimonas micra, Eikenella corrodens, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Treponema socranskii, Eubacterium nodatum and Campylobacter rectus [41].…”

“…Dogs harbor several different Treponema spp. in their oral cavity, and they can be common in both healthy and periodontitis affected dogs, indicating they are part of the normal oral microbiota [40]. Canine dental biofilm include species T. denticola, T. socranskii, T. vincentii, T. maltophilum, T. medium and T. pectinovorum [59].…”

Ozone Therapy in the Prevention of Dental Plaque Formation in Dogs

“…Toothbrushing is the gold standard for preventing periodontal disease, 1 a common condition in domestic dogs. 1,2 Therefore, the use of synergistic products as an adjuvant might enhance beneficial effects of the mechanical method. 1,[3][4][5] Ozone therapy is previously described in the prevention, control and treatment of periodontitis, as well as oral infections, due to its biocompatibility with epithelial and periodontal mucous cells.…”

“…Toothbrushing is the gold standard for preventing periodontal disease, 1 a common condition in domestic dogs. 1,2 Therefore, the use of synergistic products as an adjuvant might enhance beneficial effects of the mechanical method. 1,3 -5…”

A polymicrobial biofilm model for testing the antimicrobial potential of a nisin-biogel for canine periodontal disease control

“…and Capnocytophaga sp. [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 16 , 17 ]. Moreover, some oral bacteria that participate in PD development, such as Enterococcus faecalis , can reach the bloodstream and be associated with PD-related systemic consequences [ 18 ].…”