The predominant cultivable subgingival flora of beagle dogs following ligature placement and metronidazole therapy

Abstract

Ligature‐induced periodontitis was evaluated microbiologically in 8 beagle dogs. Gingival health was established by repeated cleaning. At day 0 subgingival plaque was sampled from individual sites in two quadrants. All teeth in one quadrant were then ligated at the CEJ, and the other quadrant served as a non‐ligated control which was cleaned three times each week. At day 14, four dogs were given metronidazole for seven days. Plaque was cultured anaerobically on nonselcctive media, and the predominant cultivable flora was characterized. At day 0 Gram‐negative facultative rods represented 56.8 % of the flora. with motile and surface translocating organisms predominating. At day 14 Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, including catalase positive B.asaccharolyticus‐like organisms, increased at ligated sites to 34.7 % of the cultivable flora. After metronidazole therapy the total bacterial count decreased, and Gram‐negative anaerobic rods became non‐detectable. Gram negative facultative bacteria which were motile or surface translocating represented 52.7 % of the cultivable flora after metronidazole treatment. In the beagle dog ligature placement was associated with a shift in the flora from Gram‐negative facultative rods to Gram‐negative anaerobic rods. Metronidazole treatment reduced the total cultivable flora and selectively reversed the microflora shifts which followed ligature placement.

Cultivable Oral Microbiota of Domestic Dogs

“…No Fusobacterium species were unequivocally identified from the samples used in this study; however, a Fusobacterium nucleatum-like species (phylotype fuso3) was detected, and two species of the closely related genus Filifactor were detected (phylotypes fuso1 and fuso4). These bacteria were detected at low levels in plaque (2.6% combined), in agreement with previous reports of a low prevalence of Fusobacterium species in the healthy gingiva of dogs (18). Phylotype fuso3 is a strong candidate for being a previously undescribed taxon, as its closest match, F. nucleatum, differs from fuso3 by 3.9% over 1,101 nucleotides and all valid Fusobacterium species are represented in GenBank (some subspecies are absent).…”

Healing of Intrabony Defects and Its Relationship to Root Canal Therapy. A Histologic and Histometric Study in Dogs

“…Plaque was left to accumulate for 3 weeks. 22 Three weeks later, the ligatures were removed and 4 different treatment modalities were randomly assigned per tooth: group 1) scaling and root planing (SRP); group 2) modified Widman flap (MWF); group 3) modified Widman flap and root canal therapy performed at the same time (RCT/MWF); and group 4) modified Widman flap and root canal therapy performed 3 weeks after the surgical procedure (MWF+RCT).…”

Laboratory animal models in periodontology

“…The subgingival microflora in beagle dogs with relatively healthy gingiva is different from humans with a high % of gram-negative bacteria. In disease, there is an increase in catalase-positive Prevotella melaninogenica, which is not seen in humans, and a decrease in gram-negative facultative rods isolated from ligated sites (Kornman et al 1981b).…”