Porphyromonas gulae infection in canines, pet owners and veterinarians in China: an epidemiological study and risk factor analysis

Abstract

AbstractPorphyromonas gulae is a clinically prevalent, anaerobic, oral bacteria in canines, that may be a causative agent of canine periodontal disease, and a potential threat to human oral health. Research on P. gulae pathogenicity in canines, their owners, and veterinarians is lacking in China. This study aimed to determine the isolation and detection rates of P. gulae in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples from 101 canines in Beijing, using anaerobic culture techniques and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The main risk factors for the transmission of P. gulae from canines to humans were also analyzed through analyzing the statistical data on risk factor variables from 103 canine owners and 60 veterinarians in Beijing who tested positive for P. gulae detection in GCF samples. The isolation and detection rates of P. gulae in canines were 31.5% (29/92) and 92.1% (93/101), respectively, compared with detection rates of 24.3% (25/103) in canine owners, 43.3% (26/60) in veterinarians, and 52.0% (13/25) in dentists. The degree of contact with canines (P = 0.001, P < 0.01) and smoking (P = 0.021, P < 0.05) were significant risk factors for P. gulae detection in owners. Moreover, the degree of contact during ultrasonic scaling (P = 0.065, 0.05 < P < 0.1) was the most important risk factor for the positive detection of P. gulae in veterinarians. These findings suggest that P. gulae may colonize the human oral cavity through intimate contact with canines or participation in dental ultrasonic scaling operations. Graphical Abstract