Periodontal disease associated with red complex bacteria in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
Red complex bacteria (Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis) play a major role in the aetiology of periodontal disease in humans. This study was designed to evaluate the association of such bacteria with periodontal disease in dogs.


METHODS
Seventy-three subgingival samples taken from dogs ranging from 2 months to 12 years (median age 4 years) were tested for red complex bacteria using a polymerase chain reaction assay.


RESULTS
Thirty-six of 73 (49 · 3%) dogs were found to be positive for T. forsythia and P. gingivalis. Dogs with gingivitis or periodontitis were more likely to be infected with T. forsythia and P. gingivalis [odds ratio (OR) 5 · 4 (confidence interval (CI) 1 · 9-15 · 6), P = 0 · 002] than healthy animals. Only 3 (4 · 1%) of 73 samples were positive for red complex bacteria, but the association with periodontal disease was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that involvement of red complex bacteria in periodontal disease in dogs is similar to that observed in humans. Only the concurrent presence of T. forsythia and P. gingivalis were correlated to periodontal disease in dogs in this study.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
A
A
Di Bello
A
A
Buonavoglia
D
D
Franchini
C
C
Valastro
G
G
Ventrella
M F
MF
Greco
M
M
Corrente
D000818:Animals; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis; D048373:Treponema denticola