Periodontal diseases are very common conditions in cats and their prevalence have been reported as affecting up to 70% of cats between 20 and 27 months old, and up to 85% of cats older than 6 years. The typical signs and symptoms of these conditions include gingival inflammation and bleeding, visible plaque accumulation, calculus, halitosis, gingival recession, periodontal pocket formation and mobile teeth. This condition usually progresses slowly and occasionally makes the animals reluctant to eat or drink properly, thus having the potential for impacting general health and wellbeing. In humans, there is no doubt concerning the infectious nature of periodontal diseases and the aetiological importance of the colonization by specific bacteria of the subgingival biofilm. Among these putative pathogens, the role of black-pigmented Bacteroides in human oral infections has been widely studied and the importance of Porphyromonas gingivalis as a significant risk indicator for the initiation and progression of periodontitis in humans has been well established. In cats, however, information on the microbiology of periodontal diseases is relatively scarce, although most published studies also point out the importance of blackpigmented bacterial species. Greater proportions of these pathogens have been found associated with increased severity of periodontal diseases in cats. The most studied genera in feline periodontal diseases are Porphyromonas spp. The presence of Porphyromonas spp. and their increased prevalence have been also associated with periodontal diseases and its severity...

Antecedentes: Las enfermedades periodontales en gatos son muy prevalentes, se estima que el 70% de los gatos de edades comprendidas entre 20 y 27 meses, y en el 85% en gatos mayores de 6 años, están afectados. Los signos y síntomas de estas enfermedades incluyen inflamación gingival, sangrado, presencia de placa, cálculo, halitosis, recesiones gingivales, bolsas periodontales y movilidad dentaria. Su etiología es infecciosa y se asocia a la microbiota subgingival. Las especies de Porphyromonas son el género más estudiado. Objetivo: El objetivo principal de este grupo de investigaciones fue estudiar la microbiota subgingival de gatos y su asociación con las enfermedades periodontales, validando las metodologías empleadas en estudios en humanos...