Porphyromonas gingivalis in the Oral Cavity of English Bulldog Newborn Puppies

ABSTRACT

Background: Periodontal disease (PD) is the most common disease of the oral cavity in cats and dogs, and it affects up to 80% of these animals. PD begins with the accumulation of bacteria on the surface of the teeth, and it poses a risk for the health of pets. Research on PD in dogs has focused on the identification and characterization of bacterial communities present in the oral cavity. Porphyromonas gingivalis is highly prevalent in the oral cavity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to detect P. gingivalis before and after dental eruption in 15 English bulldog newborn puppies, hoping to contribute to early guidance of oral hygiene management and prevent future PD.Materials, Methods & Results: Fifteen English bulldog newborn puppies were used in this study. Two groups (G1 and G2) were formed with eight and seven puppies, respectively. Oral swab samples were taken from the maxillary incisor region of animals from G1 and G2 10 days after birth (T10). At this moment, the clinical evaluation of the oral cavity showed healthy gums with a thin, shiny, pinkish, and firm margin, without any odor or granular appearance, and with no tooth eruption. On postnatal day 25 (T25), a subgingival sample was collected with a Gracey curette from the maxillary incisors; the oral cavity examination revealed healthy gums and presence of gingival sulcus. Bilateral subgingival samples were als