CHARACTERIZATION OF ANAEROBIC, GRAM-NEGATIVE, NONPIGMENTED, SACCHAROLYTIC RODS FROM SUBGINGIVAL SITES IN DOGS

We characterized 52 anaerobic, gram-negative, nonpigmented, saccharoly tic rods that were isolated from healthy and diseased subgingival site s of 16 family-owned dogs with spontaneous, clinically diagnosed perio dontitis. Phenotypic features were determined with use of standard bio chemical methods, by enzymatic profiling with the API ZYM system, and by cellular fatty acid profiling. Genotypic characterization was perfo rmed by DNA-DNA hybridization. Four phenotypic groups, defined as the Bacteroides fragilis group, the Prevotella buccae-like rods, the Prevo tella heparinolytica/Prevotella zoogleoformans-like rods, and the slim y bile-tolerant rods, designated the Bacteroides pyogenes/Bacteroides tectum group, were detected, P. buccae and the B. pyogenes/B. tectum g roup organisms were isolated significantly more often (P values, <.05 and <.005) from the diseased than the healthy subgingival sites. The p henotypically similar group of bile-tolerant organisms, including B. p yogenes and B. tectum, most likely constitutes a major component of th e anaerobic, gram-negative, saccharolytic microflora in periodontal le sions in dogs, a flora different from that in humans.