IDENTIFICATION OF THE MICROBIOTA GINGIVAL OF APPARENTLY HEALTHY DOGS

Abstract

The oral microbiota of animals is very diverse and understudied, and therefore the purpose of this paper is to isolate and identify the microbiota of the gingival mucosa of apparently healthy dogs. Samples were collected from 80 dogs with no defined race or gender and ages between 3 and 6 years. The collection of the material was carried out by swabbing the dental plaque of the maxillary canine. Samples were transported to the laboratory and cultured in different media. Each isolated bacterial or fungal group was identified by conventional morphocolonial, morphotintorial and biochemical-physiological characteristics. The assessed samples included Gram-positive bacteria of the Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Micrococcus, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus,Propionibacterium, Bacillusand Clostridium genus;Gram-negative bacteria of the Escherichia, Pseudomonas,Proteus, KlebsiellaandNeisseria genus, and the yeast fungi Candida and Malassezia. In conclusion, the oral cavity of dogs has a very diverse microbial flora, and isolated fungi are responsible for the occurrence of many infectious diseases that cause serious harm to people bitten by dog or licked in existing wounds.