Wallis C V, Soltero-Rivera M, Harvey C, Reynolds R M, Carvell-Miller L J, Colyer A, McKee T S, Mills T, Bergman P J, Watson P, Holcombe L J
Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.
Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, United States.
Front Vet Sci. 2024 Jul 23;11:1377119. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1377119. eCollection 2024.
The objective of this study was to investigate the diagnostic potential of bacterial biomarkers by comparing the performance of molecular detection assays with clinical assessments of dog's oral health performed by veterinarians.
Supragingival and subgingival plaque samples were collected from 127 client-owned dogs, pre-booked for procedures under general anesthesia, visiting veterinary practices in the United States. DNA was extracted and bacterial biomarkers quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Gingivitis and periodontitis were recorded by a trained clinician using the Weighted Gingivitis Periodontitis Score which involved assessing the buccal surfaces of 18 teeth while under general anesthesia. Intraoral dental radiographs of the left and right mandibular first molar teeth were also obtained. These data were then used to establish the diagnostic performance of the molecular assay to detect periodontitis.
An initial conscious, visual oral examination performed by the veterinarian identified 67.7% of dogs as having periodontitis, but examination under general anesthesia indicated a higher proportion (86.6%). Analysis of supragingival plaque samples collected by veterinarians from conscious and unconscious dogs demonstrated the assay had an accuracy of 77.7 to 80.9%, a sensitivity of 77.6 to 81.0%, and a specificity of 80.0%.
Use of this molecular screening tool in conscious dogs has the potential to improve early periodontal disease detection and support veterinary decision making, ultimately improving the oral health of dogs and consequently their quality of life.
本研究的目的是通过比较分子检测方法与兽医对犬口腔健康的临床评估结果，来探究细菌生物标志物的诊断潜力。
从127只客户拥有的犬只中采集龈上和龈下菌斑样本，这些犬只因预定在全身麻醉下进行手术而就诊于美国的兽医诊所。提取DNA并使用定量聚合酶链反应对细菌生物标志物进行定量。由一名经过培训的临床医生使用加权牙龈炎牙周炎评分记录牙龈炎和牙周炎情况，该评分涉及在全身麻醉下评估18颗牙齿的颊面。还获取了左右下颌第一磨牙的口腔内牙科X光片。然后使用这些数据来确定分子检测法检测牙周炎的诊断性能。
兽医最初进行的清醒状态下的目视口腔检查将67.7%的犬只诊断为患有牙周炎，但全身麻醉下的检查显示比例更高（86.6%）。对兽医从清醒和麻醉犬只采集的龈上菌斑样本进行分析表明，该检测法的准确率为77.7%至80.9%，灵敏度为77.6%至81.0%，特异性为80.0%。
在清醒犬只中使用这种分子筛查工具有可能改善牙周疾病的早期检测并支持兽医决策，最终改善犬只的口腔健康，从而提高它们的生活质量。
