Spirochetes in early lesions of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis experimentally induced in beagles

The presence of spirochetes and other bacteria during the induction of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) in beagle dogs was studied by transmission electron microscopy. NUG was induced by application of dental debris from diseased dogs to 4 beagles treated with corticosteroid. Biopsies of interdental papillae were collected during a period of 7 weeks. Spirochetes and other bacteria were observed in enlarged intercellular spaces between non-keratinized epithelial cells. Intracellular bacteria were found with and without surrounding vesicular spaces. The invasive spirochetes were mainly intermediately sized and of flagellar "4-8-4" configuration or higher. Bacterial invasion of the sulcular epithelium occurred before clinical evidence of NUG could be observed. It is concluded that invasion by intermediate spirochetes and other bacteria plays a role in initiating ulcerative gingivitis in beagles.