Bacterial agents causing periodontal disease in canines of the Quitumbe parish, Pichincha, Ecuador

Abstract

Periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed oral pathology inveterinary medicine. The objective of the research was to determine thebacterial agents causing periodontal disease in canines (Canis lupusfamiliaris), from the Quitumbe parish, in the Pichincha province,Ecuador. 33 canines diagnosed with Grade III or moderate and Grade IV orsevere periodontal disease (PD) were sampled. Microbiologicalidentification was carried out using culture methodology and biochemicaltests. 58 % of the animals had grade III periodontal disease and theremaining 42 % had grade IV. Patients between 4 and 8 years (19)presented a moderate condition, in the range of 11 % to 21 %; another 14patients presented severe PD, particularly those between 4 and 8 yearsof age concentrated 8 cases, with patients aged 9 years (29 %) and 7years (21 %). In grade III PD, there were 5 bacterial species isolated,the most frequent being Staphylococcus aureus (68.4 %), Escherichia coli(68.4 %) and Proteus mirabilis (42.1 %). For grade IV PD, Staphylococcusaureus (92.9 %) and Escherichia coli (71.4 %) predominated and, to alesser extent, Proteus mirabilis (14.3 %), Proteus vulgaris (14.3 %) andEnterococcus faecalis (7.1 %). The research concludes that the caninepopulation studied is affected by moderate and severe periodontaldisease, predominating in dogs between 4-9 years of age. The mostfrequently isolated bacterial agents were Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. Species such as Proteusvulgaris, Streptococcus salivarius, Enterococcus faecalis were alsodetected, although at a lower frequency.