Systemic effects of periodontal disease in cats

Abstract

Background: Periodontal disease in cats is a local disease that may have systemic consequences that are affected by treatment. Objective: To test the hypotheses that systemic health indices would be correlated with the severity of periodontitis, and would improve with treatment. Animals and methods: Apparently otherwise healthy cats from an in-bred colony were randomly assigned to a treatment group (n ¼ 30), or a control group (n ¼ 18), which was left untreated for 3 months. Periodontal disease was scored at baseline in the treatment group according to calculus, gingivitis, and alveolar bone loss measured from dental radiographs. Blood, urine and saliva were collected from both groups before, and 16, 45, and 90 days after dental treatment. Assays included haematology, urinalysis, serum biochemistry, serum IgG, salivary IgA, lymphocyte subsets and proliferation, and plasma malonyldialdehyde (MDA). Correlations between the severity of periodontitis and assays at baseline were assessed, and the effect of treatment determined using linear mixed model methodology. Results: The severity of periodontitis was associated with age, bodyweight, total globulins (Globs), Alanine aminotransferase, and IgG, and negatively associated with albumin, haemoglobin, haematocrit, and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Treatment significantly reduced IgG, total Globs, AST, and eosinophils, and increased cholesterol. Other leucocyte assays and plasma MDA concentrations were not affected by the treatment. Cats ate dry food faster 1 week after, than they did 1 week before treatment. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Although the clinical significance of these findings are unknown, we conclude that periodontitis is not simply a localized disease, but also impacts on systemic health and wellbeing.

Pain behaviors before and after treatment of oral disease in cats using video assessment: a prospective, blinded, randomized clinical trial

“…The study presented an ethogram of normal and those behaviors that are presumed to be affected by oral disease based on previous reports and clinical experience [6,7,17]. However, some of these behaviors are also known to be influenced by the cats' demeanor [18].…”

“…However, behavioral signs of oral disease-induced pain have not been systematically investigated in cats. Current knowledge is mostly based on anecdotal evidence and review articles by experts [6][7][8], or studies performed in other species [9][10][11]. If signs of pain are not recognized, dental disease and associated pain may result in treatment delay (i.e.…”

Prediction of Parturition Time in Queens using Radiography and Ultrasonography

“…The model was checked testing the normality of residual, and the linear correlation coefficient (r) was estimated. Ultrasonographic data were analysed using linear mixed‐model methodology (Gatel et al., ; Mogicato et al., ; Moon‐Fanelli et al., ; Cave et al., ). The foetal biometric parameters, obtained with ultrasonography, showed a linear relationship with time to parturition.…”

Prevalence of systemic disorders in cats with oral lesions

“…In dogs, post-mortem examinations have revealed a correlation between periodontal disease and a variety of degenerative and inflammatory diseases in the liver, kidney, and left AV heart valves. In another retrospective cohort study in dogs, the risk of azotaemia increased with increased severity of periodontitis (Cave et al 2012). Oral mucosal lesions became more severe with elevated BUN and creatinine levels.…”

“…A 4-year-old male mixed-breed cat diagnosed with EGC with marked oral bleeding and periodontitis showed discomfort during the oral examination Figure 2. A 4.5-year-old male cat, diagnosed with FIV, exhibiting gingivitis, peridontitis and dental plaques; leucocytosis was also found (Cave et al 2012). Feline calicivirus causes oral vesicular disease and chronic stomatitis (Poulet et al 2000).…”