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Subgingival microbiota in squirrel monkeys with naturally occurring periodontal diseases
J E Beem1, C G Hurley, I Magnusson
1Periodontal Disease Research Center, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
Abstract:
The squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) has been proposed as an in vivo model for the study of subgingival colonization by suspected periodontopathogens, such as black-pigmented porphyromonads and prevotellas (BP/P). However, the indigenous microbiota of the squirrel monkey has not been well described. Therefore, in order to more fully characterize the oral microbiota of these animals, we studied two groups of squirrel monkeys from widely different sources. Group I consisted of 50 breeding colony monkeys ranging in age from 9 months to over 6 years which had been raised in captivity; group II consisted of 16 young sexually mature monkeys recently captured in the wild in Guyana. Group I animals in captivity had developed moderate to severe gingivitis, with a mean gingival index (GI) of 2.6; 52% of the sites bled, 26% had detectable calculus, and 83% had detectable BP/P. A group I subset (six animals), for which predominant cultivable microbiota was described, had a mean GI of 2.4. Colony morphology enumeration revealed that five of the six subset animals were detectably colonized with BP/P (range, 0 to 16.9%) and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (range, 0 to 3.9%); all subset animals were colonized with Fusobacterium species (range, 0.8 to 3.6%), Actinomyces species (range, 2.3 to 11%), and gram-positive cocci (range, 1.4 to 21.4%). Predominant cultivable microbiota results revealed the presence of many bacterial species commonly found in the human gingival sulcus. At baseline, group II animals were clinically healthy and had a mean GI of 1.4; 67% of the sites bled and 2.1% had calculus, and none of the animals had detectable BP/P. Neisseriae were very common in noninflamed sites. Subsequently, when inflamed sites were compared with noninflamed sites in group II animals after they had been maintained in captivity for 6 months, inflamed sites exhibited a more complex microbiota and increased proportions of gram-negative rods and asaccharolytic bacteria.
Insights
The squirrel monkey oral microbiome differs significantly between captive and wild animals. Captive monkeys show high levels of periodontopathogens, unlike their wild counterparts, impacting their use as a model for gingivitis research.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Primate Research
- Periodontal Disease Modeling
Background:
- Squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) are proposed models for studying subgingival colonization by periodontopathogens.
- The indigenous oral microbiota of squirrel monkeys is not well-characterized, limiting their utility as a research model.
- Understanding the oral microbiome is crucial for interpreting results from animal models of periodontal disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the oral microbiota of squirrel monkeys from different sources (captivity vs. wild).
- To compare the oral microbial profiles of captive and wild squirrel monkeys.
- To assess the suitability of squirrel monkeys as an in vivo model for periodontal disease research.
Main Methods:
- Studied two groups of squirrel monkeys: 50 captive-bred (Group I) and 16 wild-caught (Group II).
- Assessed gingival health using the Gingival Index (GI), presence of bleeding, and calculus.
- Characterized the predominant cultivable oral microbiota using colony morphology enumeration.
Main Results:
- Captive monkeys (Group I) exhibited moderate to severe gingivitis (mean GI 2.6) with high prevalence of black-pigmented porphyromonads and prevotellas (BP/P) (83%).
- Wild monkeys (Group II) were clinically healthy at baseline (mean GI 1.4) and lacked detectable BP/P.
- Captivity led to increased microbial complexity and gram-negative rods in inflamed sites of Group II animals.
Conclusions:
- The oral microbiota of squirrel monkeys differs significantly between captive and wild populations.
- Captive squirrel monkeys harbor periodontopathogens, potentially confounding their use as a disease model without baseline characterization.
- Further research is needed to refine the squirrel monkey model for studying subgingival colonization and periodontal disease.