First application of Chitin nanofiber gel for feline gingivitis: a pilot study

Abstract

Gingivitis is a highly prevalent, refractory disease in cats. Chitin nanofibers (CNFs) have clinical efficacy against chronic periodontitis in humans but this remains to be clarified in cats. In this study, we examined the effect of CNFs on feline gingivitis. A gel containing CNF was orally applied to seven cats with spontaneous gingivitis once a day for 1 month. Gingivitis, plaque/calculus deposition and halitosis were evaluated before and after treatment. We also investigated changes in subgingival microbiota using next-generation sequencing analysis. After CNF treatment, the median total gingivitis score was reduced significantly (P = 0.0431). Plaque/calculus and halitosis scores in several cats decreased but did not change significantly between before and after treatment (both P = 0.1088). Subgingival microbiota analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Absconditabacteriales, Aquaspirillum and Phaselicystis significantly increased after treatment compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). In addition, the relative abundance of Clostridia_UCG-014 and Peptostreptococcus marginally decreased and that of Saccharibacteria, Dojkabacteria, and Arcobacter spp., marginally increased from before to after treatment (P < 0.10). Our results provide some support for the use of CNF as one of the treatment options for feline gingivitis.