Oral mucosal salivary samples were collected from 25 cats with chronic gingivostomatitis and 24 cats with periodontal disease. Viral culture and isolation of feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus 1 were performed. Eighty-eight per cent of cats with chronic gingivostomatitis were shedding both viruses, compared to 21% of cats without chronic oral inflammatory disease. Cats with chronic gingivostomatitis are significantly more likely to concurrently shed both feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus 1 than are cats with classical periodontal disease.

Results suggest that periodontitis is common in cats and that horizontal bone loss is the most common radiographic pattern of alveolar bone loss. Purebred cats were not more likely than mixed-breed cats to have ORL or periodontitis, but when they did have periodontitis, it was more likely to be moderate to severe. Cats with ORL were less likely than cats without ORL to have normal alveolar bone height and more likely to have severe focal vertical bone loss.

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Sixteen cats with chronic stomatitis, that had previously undergone premolar-molar or full-mouth extractions, were randomly assigned a group to receive 2.5 mg/kg cyclosporine or placebo orally twice daily Neither the clinician nor the clients were aware of the group assignments. Cats were evaluated prior to treatment and every 2 weeks for 6 weeks using a 30 point Stomatitis Disease Activity Index (SDAI) score. Mean improvement in SDAI scores among cats in the treatment group after 6 weeks was 52.7 %. This was significantty diffrent fom the mean improvement (12.2 %) of cats in the placebo group. During the 6 week study period, 7 of the 9 cats in the treatment group (77.8 %) showed a > 40 % improvement in SDAI score, while 1 of 7 cats in placebo group (14.3 %) showed a > 40 % improvement in SDAI score. This difference was statistically significant. Individual variability in the absorption of orally-administered cyclosporine was high. Trough whole-blood cyclosporine levels ranged firm 32.1 ng/ml to 1,576.2 ng/ml. At the end of the 6 week observation period, there was a statistically significant diference among cats with trough whole-blood cyclosporine levels >300 ng/ml (72.3 % improvement) compared with cats with cyclosporine levels < 300 ng/ml (28.2 % improvement). Whole-blood cyclosporine levels > 300 ng/ml were associated with significant improvement in oral inflammation in cats with chronic stomatitis that had previously undergone premolar-molar or fuill-mouth extraction.

Background The ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to modulate immune responses inspired a series of clinical trials addressing oral mucosal inflammation. We previously reported on the safety and efficacy of fresh, allogeneic and autologous, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) to treat feline gingivostomatitis (FCGS), an oral mucosal inflammatory disease that shares similarities with human oral lichen planus. Methods To meet clinical demand and goals for future commercialization, we determined the feasibility of shipping fresh ASCs to distant clinics and extended our pilot studies to expand safety and efficacy data for shipped and non-shipped ASCs in a cohort of 18 FCGS cats enrolled locally and at a few different locations within the USA. Results We found that ASCs retained their viability, phenotype, and function after shipment. ASCs administered systemically resulted in a 72% positive response rate, identical to that noted in our previous studies. Cats that responded to ASC therapy had a significant decrease in circulating globulin concentration and histological evidence of decreased CD3+ T cells and CD20+ B cells in the oral mucosa. Responder cats also had significantly decreased percentages of CD8lo cells in blood prior to and at 3 months post-ASC therapy. CD8lo cells may serve as a potential “predictor” for response to systemic ASC therapy. Conclusion Fresh feline ASCs can be successfully shipped and administered to cats with FCGS. ASCs modulate the immune response and demonstrate efficacy for chronic oral mucosal inflammatory lesions that are characterized by CD8+ T cell inflammation and T cell activation. FCGS is a potentially useful naturally occurring large animal model of human oral inflammatory diseases.