Norris, JM and Love, DN*
Department of Veterinary Anatomy & Pathology, Sydney University, NSW 2006 Australia

Aims were to determine prevalence of P.gingivalis (PgF), P.salivosa (Ps) and P.circumdentaria (Pc) at feline gingival margins and to determine relationships between numbers of cfu of each species and grade of periodontal disease.

Total cfu of facultative and obligately anaerobic species were determined and digoxygenin labelled species specific DNA probes used to enumerate PgF, Ps and Pc.

The study showed that Porphyromonas were a numerically significant and highly prevalent genus in feline periodontal disease. There was a strong correlation between grade of periodontal disease and numbers of cfu at both canine and premolar sites.

PgF was highly prevalent and isolated from all cats at the canine and/or premolar sites. There was a strong relationship between grade of disease and numbers of PgF at each sample site.

The study also showed a strong association between Ps and feline periodontal disease. Ps was isolated with lower frequency than PgF and Pc.

Pc was a highly prevalent organism in feline periodontal disease. An association between Pc and grade of periodontal disease was established but it was weaker than for PgF or Ps.

The strong association of Porphyromonas species and progressive destructive periodontal disease suggests that members of the genus Porphyromonas should be considered as potential periodontal pathogens.