FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Bacterial Periodontitis in Horses: An Epidemiological Study ...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(11); 1814; doi: 10.3390/ani13111814

Bacterial Periodontitis in Horses: An Epidemiological Study in Southern Italy.

Abstract: Equine periodontal disease (EPD) is a painful oral inflammatory syndrome characterized by multifactorial pathogenesis. Although it is well known that bacterial proliferation and consequent gingivitis are caused by the decomposition process of food residues, in hypsodont species, the pathogenetic role and the different bacterial species involved in the progression of EPD must be fully clarified. This study aimed to investigate the association of bacteria, including the complex red bacteria (RCB), with EPD, and to evaluate possible EPD risk factors. Bacterial species, including , , (belonging to the RCB), , , and , were investigated in 125 oral swabs from healthy and EPD-affected horses using real-time multiplex PCR. Subsequently, possible risk factors (i.e., age, gender, and breed of the animals and type of feed used) were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. spp. and spp. were detected in a significantly higher proportion of horses affected by EPD than in healthy animals, although pathogens belonging to RCB were detected in low number of horses. At the same time, none of the investigated pathogens was significantly associated with a particular stage of disease severity. Horses aged older than 20 years were at higher risk of EPD. The high rate of coinfection, statistically associated with EPD, supports the hypothesis that EPD is a complex syndrome characterized by the possible simultaneous involvement of several pathogens and an increased risk depending on the animal's age. Constant oral hygiene is the best prevention to prevent and treat the disease, especially in old animals.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-05-30 PubMed ID: 37889702PubMed Central: PMC10251870DOI: 10.3390/ani13111814Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article studies the relationship between different types of bacteria and equine periodontal disease (EPD), an inflammatory mouth disease in horses further assessing potential risk factors like age, gender, breed, and feed type. Whether bacterial proliferation and consequent inflammation are caused by the decomposition process of food residues in hypsodont species is also explored.

Objective and Method of the Study

  • The study is aimed at investigating the association of different bacterial species, including the complex red bacteria (RCB), with EPD and evaluating possible risk factors for the disease.
  • The bacterial species investigated are Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Tannerella forsythia (all belonging to the RCB), Treponema denticola, Parvimonas micra, and Prevotella intermedia.
  • The team conducted tests on 125 oral swabs from healthy and EPD-affected horses using real-time multiplex PCR, a method used to detect and measure the presence of bacteria.
  • Subsequently, possible risk factors like the age, gender, breed of the horses, and type of feed used were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses – statistical techniques used to understand the impact of multiple variables on the research outcome.

Results

  • Two bacterial species, F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis, were found in a significantly higher proportion in horses affected by EPD than in healthy animals. However, pathogens belonging to RCB were detected in a low number of horses.
  • None of the investigated bacterial species was significantly associated with a specific stage of disease severity, suggesting the progression of EPD is a multifactorial issue.
  • The study found that horses aged 20 years and older were at a higher risk of developing EPD, highlighting age as a crucial risk factor.

Implications

  • These results support the hypothesis that EPD is a complex syndrome potentially involving multiple pathogens simultaneously.
  • It also puts emphasis on the importance of regular oral hygiene in horses for the prevention and treatment of EPD, particularly in older animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Occhiogrosso L, Capozza P, Buonavoglia A, Decaro N, Trotta A, Marin C, Corrente M. (2023). Bacterial Periodontitis in Horses: An Epidemiological Study in Southern Italy. Animals (Basel), 13(11), 1814. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13111814

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 11
PII: 1814

Researcher Affiliations

Occhiogrosso, Leonardo
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
Capozza, Paolo
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
Buonavoglia, Alessio
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
Decaro, Nicola
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
Trotta, Adriana
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
Marin, Claudia
  • Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy.
Corrente, Marialaura
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 54 references
  1. Penzhorn B.L.. Dental abnormalities in free-ranging Cape mountain zebras (Equus zebra zebra). J. Wildl. Dis. 1984;20:161–166.
    doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-20.2.161pubmed: 6737614google scholar: lookup
  2. Lindhe J., Hamp S., Loe H.. Experimental periodontitis in the beagle dog. J. Periodontal Res. 1973;8:1–10.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1973.tb00735.xpubmed: 4272068google scholar: lookup
  3. Albuquerque C., Morinha F., Requicha J., Martins T., Dias I., Guedes-Pinto H., Bastos E., Viegas C.. Canine periodontitis: The dog as an important model for periodontal studies. Vet. J. 2012;191:299–305.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.08.017pubmed: 21940182google scholar: lookup
  4. Buonavoglia A., Latronico F., Pirani C., Greco M.F., Corrente M., Prati C.. Symptomatic and asymptomatic apical periodontitis associated with red complex bacteria: Clinical and microbiological evaluation. Odontology 2013;101:84–88.
    doi: 10.1007/s10266-011-0053-ypubmed: 22143381google scholar: lookup
  5. Di Bello A., Buonavoglia A., Franchini D., Valastro C., Ventrella G., Greco M.F., Corrente M.. Periodontal disease associated with red complex bacteria in dogs. J. Small Anim. Pract. 2014;55:160–163.
    doi: 10.1111/jsap.12179pubmed: 24450418google scholar: lookup
  6. Rodrigues J.B., Dixon P.M., Bastos E., San Roman F., Viegas C.. A clinical survey on the prevalence and types of cheek teeth disorders present in 400 Zamorano-Leones and 400 Mirandes donkeys (Equus asinus). Vet. Rec. 2013;173:581.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.101747pubmed: 24296357google scholar: lookup
  7. Du Toit N., Burden F.A., Baedt L.G., Shaw D.J., Dixon P.M.. Dimensions of diastemata and associated periodontal food pockets in donkey cheek teeth. J. Vet. Dent. 2009;26:10–14.
    doi: 10.1177/089875640902600105pubmed: 19476082google scholar: lookup
  8. Ruiz de Arcaute M., Lacasta D., Gonzalez J.M., Ferrer L.M., Ortega M., Ruiz H., Ventura J.A., Ramos J.J.. Management of Risk Factors Associated with Chronic Oral Lesions in Sheep. Animals 2020;10:1529.
    doi: 10.3390/ani10091529pmc: PMC7552339pubmed: 32872584google scholar: lookup
  9. Kennedy R.S., Dixon P.M.. The aetiopathogenesis of equine periodontal disease—A fresh perspective. Equine Vet. Educ. 2018;30:161–168.
    doi: 10.1111/eve.12563google scholar: lookup
  10. Kennedy R., Lappin D.F., Dixon P.M., Buijs M.J., Zaura E., Crielaard W., O’Donnell L., Bennett D., Brandt B.W., Riggio M.P.. The microbiome associated with equine periodontitis and oral health. Vet. Res. 2016;47:49.
    doi: 10.1186/s13567-016-0333-1pmc: PMC4832512pubmed: 27080859google scholar: lookup
  11. Dixon P.M., Barakzai S., Collins N., Yates J.. Treatment of equine cheek teeth by mechanical widening of diastemata in 60 horses (2000–2006). Equine Vet. J. 2008;40:22–28.
    doi: 10.2746/042516407X239827pubmed: 18083656google scholar: lookup
  12. Dixon P.M., Ceen S., Barnett T., O’Leary J.M., Parkin T.D., Barakzai S.. A long-term study on the clinical effects of mechanical widening of cheek teeth diastemata for treatment of periodontitis in 202 horses (2008–2011). Equine Vet. J. 2014;46:76–80.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12085pubmed: 23662996google scholar: lookup
  13. Carmalt J.L.. Evidence-based equine dentistry: Preventive medicine. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 2007;23:519–524.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2007.03.002pubmed: 17616326google scholar: lookup
  14. Miles A.E.W., Grigson C.. Colyer’s Variations and Diseases of the Teeth of Animals. .
  15. Colyer F.. Abnormal Conditions of the Teeth of Animals in Their Relationship to Similar Conditions in Man. .
  16. BAKER G.J.. Some Aspects of Equine Dental Disease. Equine Vet. J. 1970;2:105–110.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1970.tb04168.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  17. Baker G.J., Easley J.. Equine Dentistry. 2nd ed. Elsevier; Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 2005. p. 368.
  18. Chinkangsadarn T.. Clinical and Microbiological Aspects of Periodontal Disease in Horses in South-East Queensland. Ph.D. Thesis. School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland; Brisbane, Australia: 2016.
  19. Ireland J.L., McGowan C.M., Clegg P.D., Chandler K.J., Pinchbeck G.L.. A survey of health care and disease in geriatric horses aged 30 years or older. Vet. J. 2012;192:57–64.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.03.021pubmed: 21550271google scholar: lookup
  20. Nuttall H.E., Ravenhill P.J.. Prevalence and analysis of equine periodontal disease, diastemata and peripheral caries in a first-opinion horse population in the UK. Vet. J. 2019;246:98–102.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.02.005pubmed: 30902197google scholar: lookup
  21. Klugh D.O., Corey D.G.. A review of equine periodontal disease. Dent. Surg. Lameness. 2006;52:551–558.
  22. GERE I., DIXON P.M.. Post mortem survey of peripheral dental caries in 510 Swedish horses. Equine Vet. J. 2010;42:310–315.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2009.00024.xpubmed: 20525048google scholar: lookup
  23. Walker H., Chinn E., Holmes S., Barwise-Munro L., Robertson V., Mould R., Bradley S., Shaw D.J., Dixon P.M.. Prevalence and some clinical characteristics of equine cheek teeth diastemata in 471 horses examined in a UK first-opinion equine practice (2008 to 2009). Vet. Rec. 2012;171:44.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.100829pubmed: 22706040google scholar: lookup
  24. Jackson K., Kelty E., Tennant M.. Equine peripheral dental caries: An epidemiological survey assessing prevalence and possible risk factors in Western Australian horses. Equine Vet. J. 2018;50:79–84.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12718pubmed: 28707363google scholar: lookup
  25. Samad L., Tavanaeimanesh H., Mehr Azin H., Moadab S.H., Vajhi A.R.. Clinical dental finding in Iranian horses. Vet. Med. Sci. 2020;6:679–685.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.329pmc: PMC7738718pubmed: 32735069google scholar: lookup
  26. Theilade E., Wright W.H., Jensen S.B., Loe H.. Experimental gingivitis in man. II. A longitudinal clinical and bacteriological investigation. J. Periodontal Res. 1966;1:1–13.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1966.tb01842.xpubmed: 4224181google scholar: lookup
  27. Mariotti A.. Dental Plaque-Induced Gingival Diseases. Ann. Periodontol. 1999;4:7–17.
    doi: 10.1902/annals.1999.4.1.7pubmed: 10863371google scholar: lookup
  28. Socransky S.S., Haffajee A.D., Cugini M.A., Smith C., Kent R.L., Jr.. Microbial complexes in subgingival plaque. J. Clin. Periodontol. 1998;25:134–144.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.1998.tb02419.xpubmed: 9495612google scholar: lookup
  29. Hennet P.R., Harvey C.E.. Aerobes in Periodontal Disease in the Dog: A Review. J. Vet. Dent. 1991;8:11–19.
    doi: 10.1177/089875649100800103pubmed: 1930736google scholar: lookup
  30. Harris S., Croft J., O’Flynn C., Deusch O., Colyer A., Allsopp J., Milella L., Davis I.J.. A Pyrosequencing Investigation of Differences in the Feline Subgingival Microbiota in Health, Gingivitis and Mild Periodontitis. PLoS ONE 2015;10:e0136986.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136986pmc: PMC4659563pubmed: 26605793google scholar: lookup
  31. Holt S.C., Ebersole J.L.. Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia: The “red complex”, a prototype polybacterial pathogenic consortium in periodontitis. Periodontology 2000 2005;38:72–122.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0757.2005.00113.xpubmed: 15853938google scholar: lookup
  32. Baumgartner J.C., Khemaleelakul S.U., Xia T.. Identification of spirochetes (treponemes) in endodontic infections. J. Endod. 2003;29:794–797.
    doi: 10.1097/00004770-200312000-00002pubmed: 14686807google scholar: lookup
  33. Foschi F., Cavrini F., Montebugnoli L., Stashenko P., Sambri V., Prati C.. Detection of bacteria in endodontic samples by polymerase chain reaction assays and association with defined clinical signs in Italian patients. Oral Microbiol. Immunol. 2005;20:289–295.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1399-302X.2005.00227.xpubmed: 16101964google scholar: lookup
  34. Hajishengallis G., Lamont R.J.. Beyond the red complex and into more complexity: The polymicrobial synergy and dysbiosis (PSD) model of periodontal disease etiology. Mol. Oral Microbiol. 2012;27:409–419.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2041-1014.2012.00663.xpmc: PMC3653317pubmed: 23134607google scholar: lookup
  35. Little W.L.. Periodontal Disease in the Horse. J. Comp. Pathol. 1913;26:240–249.
    doi: 10.1016/S0368-1742(13)80041-0google scholar: lookup
  36. Dixon P.M., Dacre I., Dacre K., Tremaine W.H., McCann J., Barakzai S.. Standing oral extraction of cheek teeth in 100 horses (1998–2003). Equine Vet. J. 2005;37:105–112.
    doi: 10.2746/0425164054223822pubmed: 15779621google scholar: lookup
  37. Cox A., Dixon P., Smith S.. Histopathological lesions associated with equine periodontal disease. Vet. J. 2012;194:386–391.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.04.026pubmed: 22633827google scholar: lookup
  38. Sykora S., Pieber K., Simhofer H., Hackl V., Brodesser D., Brandt S.. Isolation of Treponema and Tannerella spp. from equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis related periodontal disease. Equine Vet. J. 2014;46:358–363.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12115pubmed: 23742079google scholar: lookup
  39. Socransky S.S., Gibbons R.J., Dale A.C., Bortnick L., Rosenthal E., Macdonald J.B.. The microbiota of the gingival crevice area of man. I. Total microscopic and viable counts and counts of specific organisms. Arch. Oral Biol. 1963;8:275–280.
    doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(63)90019-0pubmed: 13989807google scholar: lookup
  40. Wara-Aswapati N., Pitiphat W., Chanchaimongkon L., Taweechaisupapong S., Boch J.A., Ishikawa I.. Red bacterial complex is associated with the severity of chronic periodontitis in a Thai population. Oral Dis. 2009;15:354–359.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2009.01562.xpubmed: 19371397google scholar: lookup
  41. Dugdale A.H., Grove-White D., Curtis G.C., Harris P.A., Argo C.M.. Body condition scoring as a predictor of body fat in horses and ponies. Vet. J. 2012;194:173–178.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.03.024pubmed: 22578691google scholar: lookup
  42. Kuboniwa M., Amano A., Kimura K.R., Sekine S., Kato S., Yamamoto Y., Okahashi N., Iida T., Shizukuishi S.. Quantitative detection of periodontal pathogens using real-time polymerase chain reaction with TaqMan probes. Oral Microbiol. Immunol. 2004;19:168–176.
    doi: 10.1111/j.0902-0055.2004.00135.xpubmed: 15107068google scholar: lookup
  43. Sanchez M.C., Llama-Palacios A., Fernandez E., Figuero E., Marin M.J., Leon R., Blanc V., Herrera D., Sanz M.. An in vitro biofilm model associated to dental implants: Structural and quantitative analysis of in vitro biofilm formation on different dental implant surfaces. Dent. Mater. 2014;30:1161–1171.
    doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2014.07.008pubmed: 25110288google scholar: lookup
  44. Coffey J., Choudhry M., Shlossman M., Makin I.R.S., Singh V.K.. Multiplex real-time PCR detection and relative quantification of periodontal pathogens. Clin. Exp. Dent. Res. 2016;2:185–192.
    doi: 10.1002/cre2.37pmc: PMC5839218pubmed: 29744166google scholar: lookup
  45. Cohen J.. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd ed. Routledge; New York, NY, USA: 1988. p. 567.
  46. Gieche J.M.. How to Assess the Equine Periodontium. AAEP Proc. 2010;56:441–449.
  47. Sommerville R., Brown A.F., Upjohn M.. A standardised equine-based welfare assessment tool used for six years in low and middle income countries. PLoS ONE 2018;13:e0192354.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192354pmc: PMC5821349pubmed: 29466391google scholar: lookup
  48. Lee L., Reardon R.J.M., Dixon P.M.. A post-mortem study on the prevalence of peripheral dental caries in Scottish horses. Equine Vet. Educ. 2019;31:96–101.
    doi: 10.1111/eve.12783google scholar: lookup
  49. Borkent D., Reardon R.J.M., McLachlan G., Smith S., Dixon P.M.. An epidemiological survey on the prevalence of equine peripheral dental caries in the United Kingdom and possible risk factors for its development. Equine Vet. J. 2017;49:480–485.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12610pubmed: 27423159google scholar: lookup
  50. Vlaminck L., Huys L.W.J., Maes D., Steenhaut M., Gasthuys F.. Observations on periodontal changes after tooth extraction and possible influence of a partial tooth replacement therapy. Equine Vet. Educ. 2006;18:439–440.
  51. Bottegaro N.B., Kos J., Smolec O., Vnuk D., Matičić D., Pirkic B., Radišić B., Vrbanac Z., Selanec J.. Pathological findings in premolar and molar teeth in 100 horses during routine clinical examinations. Vet. Arh. 2012;82:143–153.
  52. Campoy L., Sedgwick S.R.. Standing Sedation and Iocoregional Analgesia in Equine Dental Surgery. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 2020;36:477–499.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2020.08.009pubmed: 33189231google scholar: lookup
  53. Moore N.T.. Clinical findings and treatment of shear mouth in two horses associated with ipsilateral painful dental disease. Equine Vet. Educ. 2016;28:13–19.
    doi: 10.1111/eve.12381google scholar: lookup
  54. Sharma A.. Virulence mechanisms of Tannerella forsythia. Periodontology 2000 2010;54:106–116.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0757.2009.00332.xpmc: PMC2934765pubmed: 20712636google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.