Molecular detection of feline and canine periodontal pathogens

•It is concluded that the feline oral flora is highly diverse than canine oral flora.•Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella nigrescens and Porphyromonas gulae were the dominant species in cats and dogs.•T. forsythia, C. ochracea, and C. sputigena in cats and T. forsythia, C. ochracea, C. sputigena T. denticola and, E. corrodens, in dogs showed that the prevalence was lower than 10%. E. corrodens in cats and, P. intermedia, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and C. rectus in dogs were also isolated from the swab samples with less than 30% percentage.•A balanced diet for cats and dogs should be provided to reduce the formation of residues in the oral flora. Daily rinsing with antiseptic solutions may also be helpful against the development of periodontal pathogens. Periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease of cats and dogs which are strongly associated with periodontal pathogens. The primary etiologic factor in the formation of periodontal disease is microbial dental plaque accumulation on teeth. In our research, we aimed to investigate the presence of periodontal disease-related bacterial species in dental plaques of cats and dogs. Specimens collected from 50 cats and 51 dogs with periodontal disease examined in terms of periodontal pathogens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers directed to 16S rRNA and tdpA genes. Our findings indicate the presence of periodontal disease-related pathogens, especially Porphyromonas gingivalis (cats 96%, dogs 88%), Prevotella nigrescens (cats 90%, dogs 57%) and, Porphyromonas gulae (cats 70%, dogs 39%). In addition, the prevalence of Tannerella forthysia (cats 2%, dogs 4%) well-known pathogen in cats and dogs were isolated with an extremely low percentage. Furthermore, our results suggest that the feline oral cavity microbiota has considerably more diversity than dogs. Consequently, daily oral hygiene practices may become essential for controlling the pathogenic bacteria which have clinical importance and in preventing the propagation of microorganisms in the oral cavity of cats and dogs.