Microbial and Cytokine Signatures of Periodontitis in Dogs

Periodontal disease is one of the most prevalent and widespread diseases in dogs and it is estimated to affect up to 63% of the general dog population. Periodontal disease is considered a multifactorial inflammatory disease that results from the interaction between the host’s defense mechanisms and the microorganisms present in subgingival plaque. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have explored the functional potential of subgingival microbial communities in dogs and how they relate to the local inflammatory periodontal response. Herein, we propose to fill this knowledge gap by describing the subgingival microbial profiles (taxonomic and functional profiles) of healthy dogs and dogs affected with different clinical stages of periodontitis, assessing cytokine expression in gingival tissues, and more importantly, investigating associations between microbial and immunological profiles. The knowledge generated will help inform the microbial and immunological pathogenesis of periodontal disease in dogs, which is an essential step towards developing rational preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

Participation Requirements:

Periodontal tissue and subgingival microbial samples will be obtained from client-owned dogs presenting to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals’ (CUHA) Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service. Dogs that received systemic antibiotics, immunosuppressant or anti-inflammatory medications during the previous 4 weeks will be excluded from the study. Dogs with systemic diseases expected to cause immunosuppression, including diabetes mellitus, cancer, chronic renal disease and endocrinopathies, will be excluded. Cases in which periodontal probing, charting and full-mouth radiographic studies are not performed will not be included. To reduce possible age disparities among healthy and diseased groups, only adult dogs known to be older than 5 years will be enrolled.

Owner's Responsibilities:

In all cases, sample collection will occur while dogs are under general anesthesia receiving standard-of-care intervention. Written consent signed by the dog owner will be required for enrollment.

All portions of the study will be conducted at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, including sample collection, laboratory assays and data analysis. Enrolled dogs will be presented to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals in Ithaca, NY. Enrolled animals will not be restricted to those residing in the area.

Learn more about Grant 02809.