Assessment of Changes in the Oral Microbiome That Occur in Dogs with Periodontal Disease

Abstract

The oral microbiome in dogs is a complex community. Under some circumstances, it contributes to periodontal disease, a prevalent inflammatory disease characterized by a complex interaction between oral microbes and the immune system. <i>Porphyromonas</i> and <i>Tannerella</i> spp. are usually dominant in this disease. How the oral microbiome community is altered in periodontal disease, especially sub-dominant microbial populations is unclear. Moreover, how microbiome functions are altered in this disease has not been studied. In this study, we compared the composition and the predicted functions of the microbiome of the cavity of healthy dogs to those with from periodontal disease. The microbiome of both groups clustered separately, indicating important differences. Periodontal disease resulted in a significant increase in <i>Bacteroidetes</i> and reductions in <i>Actinobacteria</i> and <i>Proteobacteria</i>. <i>Porphyromonas</i> abundance increased 2.7 times in periodontal disease, accompanied by increases in <i>Bacteroides</i> and <i>Fusobacterium.</i> It was predicted that aerobic respiratory processes are decreased in periodontal disease. Enrichment in fermentative processes and anaerobic glycolysis were suggestive of an anaerobic environment, also characterized by higher lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. This study contributes to a better understanding of how periodontal disease modifies the oral microbiome and makes a prediction of the metabolic pathways that contribute to the inflammatory process observed in periodontal disease.