HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF PERIODONTITIS
IN SHEEP
Key-words: Periodontitis, Swollen face, sheep diseases.
Summary
Periodontitis or “swollen face” is an infectious disease that causes purulent lesions associated with the presence of a complex microbiota in the subgingival biofilm. The disease results in resorption of the alveolus bone, dental wear and subsequent loss of the tooth. This multifactorial disease requires three main factors to development: soil microbiota imbalance due to pasture formed after deforestation, animals in the eruption phase of teeth and the presence of bacteria in the gingival epithelium. The presence of bacteria in the gingival epithelium forms a complex of bacterial species that leads to the destruction of periodontal structures, including tooth support tissues, alveolar bone and periodontal ligament. Among them, anaerobic bacteria in the gingival sulcus are directly related to the etiology. The disease causes huge economic losses in the ruminants industry due to decreased productivity as a result of difficulty of apprehension and chewing. This project proposes to perform a histological and molecular study in tissues of sheep with periodontitis collected in a slaughterhouse. Tissues affected by periodontitis will be tested by histochemical techniques as Hematoxylin and Eosin, Gram and Warthin-Starry (silver impregnation). The tissues of these lesions will also be tested by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in order to identify the agents present in these lesions. Histological examinations will be performed at the Pathological Anatomy Sector (SAP) of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). Molecular exams will be performed at the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Paulista State University Júlio de Mesquita Filho, campus of Araçatuba, SP.