Differences in the Composition of Cultivable Aerobic and Facultative Anaerobic Oral Microbiota in Cats of Various Age Groups

The feline oral cavity is naturally inhabited by various microorganisms contributing to the maintenance of its oral health. The imbalance of oral microbiota or the presence of pathogenic agents can lead to secondary oral diseases. Various factors such as sex, diet, breed, environment and even age, affect the composition of a healthy oral microbiota during the life of cats. The purpose of this study was to compare the composition of culturable aerobic and facultative anaerobic micro-biota in cats in terms of different age categories. We used conventional cultivation methods in conjunction with microscopic and biochemical methods to isolate and identify the micro organisms found in the oral cavity of cats. The examination of 76 samples confirmed the dominance of the phylum Proteobacteria in almost all groups. Commonly occurring bacteria have been identified, i. e. Streptococcus spp., Neisseria spp. and Pasteurella spp. Although aerobic and facultative anaerobic oral micro biota were examined, differences between age groups were noted. The microbial diversity of the oral microbiota significantly increased with age.