Evaluation of the relationship between periodontal diseases and oxidative stress parameters in cats

Periodontal disease, which is defined as inflammation of the tissues and supporting structures surrounding the teeth, can be observed in cats starting from the age of 2. Periodontal diseases start with Gingivitis, which is the early stage of periodontal disease. Gingivitis can arise from inflammation of the gums due to plaque, a white or yellowish biofilm of bacteria on the tooth surface, and the toxins produced by these bacteria. It can also result from inflammation of the periodontal tissues, including dental calculus or other periodontal tissues. A total of 242 cats were brought to the clinic for surgical diseases and 14 cats (5.78%) were found to have periodontal diseases. Although there have been several studies on oxidative stress, there are very few publications investigating the relationship between oxidative stress and periodontal diseases in cats. The aim of this study is to measure serum MDA, IMA and GSH concentrations and SOD and CAT activities in cats with periodontal diseases and to evaluate the relationship between oxidant and antioxidant status, which are indicators of oxidative stress. In the study, blood samples taken from cats with periodontal disease were centrifuged and serum was removed. MDA and IMA levels of cats with periodontal disease were found to be significantly higher than in cats that recovered after treatment ( P <0.001). SOD, CAT and GSH levels were determined to be significantly lower cats with periodontal disease than recovered cats ( P <0.001). In conclusion, this study reveals that there is a relationship between periodontal diseases and oxidant/antioxidant balance in cats and it shows that the oxidative stress develop due to the increase of free radicals.