Bacterial Periodontitis in Horses: An Epidemiological Study in Southern Italy.
Authors: Occhiogrosso Leonardo, Capozza Paolo, Buonavoglia Alessio, Decaro Nicola, Trotta Adriana, Marin Claudia, Corrente Marialaura
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Bacterial Periodontitis in Horses — An Epidemiological Study in Southern Italy Equine periodontal disease remains a significant welfare concern in practice, yet the specific bacterial pathogens driving its progression in hypsodont dentition are incompletely understood. Researchers examined oral swabs from 125 horses using real-time multiplex PCR to identify six target bacteria—including the classically implicated red complex bacteria (Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, and Porphyromonas gingivalis) alongside Fusobacterium nucleatum, Veillonella parvula, and Prevotella intermedia—and evaluated age, sex, breed, and feeding type as potential risk factors. Tannerella and Treponema species were significantly more prevalent in diseased horses than healthy controls, though notably, the red complex bacteria themselves appeared in relatively low numbers; importantly, no single pathogen correlated with disease severity stages, yet coinfection rates were statistically elevated in affected animals. Age emerged as a critical risk factor, with horses over 20 years showing substantially higher EPD prevalence. The findings support a polymicrobial disease model rather than single-pathogen aetiology, suggesting that clinicians should anticipate complex bacterial communities in older horses and reinforce the critical role of consistent oral hygiene protocols—particularly mechanical plaque management—as the cornerstone of prevention and treatment in geriatric populations.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Equine periodontal disease involves multiple bacterial species acting synergistically rather than individual pathogens, necessitating comprehensive oral care rather than targeting single bacteria
- •Age is a critical risk factor—geriatric horses (>20 years) require more frequent and rigorous dental prophylaxis and oral hygiene monitoring to prevent or slow disease progression
- •Consistent oral hygiene and professional cleaning are the most effective preventive and therapeutic strategies, particularly important in older horses where disease risk increases substantially
Key Findings
- •Tannerella spp. and Treponema spp. were detected significantly more frequently in EPD-affected horses compared to healthy animals
- •Red complex bacteria (RCB) were detected in only a low proportion of sampled horses despite being pathogenic markers in other species
- •High rates of coinfection were statistically associated with EPD, supporting the multifactorial pathogenic model
- •Horses older than 20 years showed significantly higher risk of developing EPD