Prevalence of Porphyromonas and Prevotella species in the dental plaque of dogs

Abstract

The prevalence and populations of Porphyromonas and Prevotella species were determined in three samples of dental plaque from each of 34 healthy dogs. Porphyromonas gingivalis was present in 68 per cent of the dogs and 47 per cent of the plaque samples. The counts of P gingivalis increased with age (P < 0.1), the amount of plaque (P < 0.05) and the degree of gingivitis (P < 0.1). Prevotella intermedia was present in 44 per cent of the dogs and 23 per cent of the plaque samples. The counts of P intermedia were correlated with the amount of plaque (P < 0.05) and the degree of gingivitis (P < 0.1). Porphyromonas canoris, P salivosa, P cangingivalis, P cansulci, P crevioricanis and Prevotella denticola were isolated from only 9, 6, 3, 3, 3 and 3 per cent of the dogs, respectively. Porphyromonas gingivicanis was not isolated from any of the animals sampled. There was a highly significant (P < 0.001) correlation between the amount of plaque, the extent of gingivitis and the age of the dog.