Periodontal disease and fluoride bone levels in two separate Iberian red deer populations

Abstract

The mandibles of 209 red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) from 6 months to 15 years old, shot between 2001 and 2002 in the Sierra de Andújar Natural Park (n = 173) and National Park of Doñana (n = 36) in southern Spain, were studied in order to assess spatial variations in the occurrence of periodontal disease and bone fluoride levels in two separate populations. Similarities were found in periodontal disease prevalence between the study areas (20.8% in Sierra de Andújar Natural Park and 33.3% in National Park of Doñana), and enamel defects or abnormal abrasion (7–10%, respectively). There were also variations in fluoride levels according to the area and the occurrence of periodontal disease, irrespective of age. Fluoride content was significantly lower in deer in Sierra de Andújar (250.5 ± 158.9 mg F/kg ash) than in Doñana (752.4 ± 451.0 mg F/kg ash), and the higher levels of bone fluoride occurred in mandibles showing periodontal disease in both areas (358.6 ± 201.7 and 1224.9 ± 422.34 mg F/kg, respectively). The fluoride levels were lower than expected, typical of non-polluted areas, and there was no significant influence of the occurrence of enamel defects on the bone fluoride concentration. In these areas pathologically increased attrition, enamel discolouration or enamel surface lesions seem not to be caused by fluorosis, so that special care must also be taken in using macroscopic lesions instead of fluoride determination as an indicator for monitoring the magnitude of environmental contamination. Research into the global mineral content and possible deficiencies in certain minerals such as selenium, phosphorus and calcium interacting with fluoride is necessary in order to understand the high prevalence of periodontal disease in younger animals and the higher concentrations of fluoride in mandibles with periodontal disease.