Impacts of Antiretroviral Therapy on the Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Health of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Cats

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is the domestic cat analogue of HIV infection in humans. Both viruses induce oral disease in untreated individuals, with clinical signs that include gingivitis and periodontal lesions. Oral disease manifestations in HIV patients are abated by highly effective comb...

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Main Authors: Laura Bashor, Jennifer E. Rawlinson, Christopher P. Kozakiewicz, Elisa Behzadi, Craig Miller, Jeffrey Kim, Megan Cierzan, Mary Nehring, Scott Carver, Zaid Abdo, Sue VandeWoude
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/2/257
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author Laura Bashor
Jennifer E. Rawlinson
Christopher P. Kozakiewicz
Elisa Behzadi
Craig Miller
Jeffrey Kim
Megan Cierzan
Mary Nehring
Scott Carver
Zaid Abdo
Sue VandeWoude
author_facet Laura Bashor
Jennifer E. Rawlinson
Christopher P. Kozakiewicz
Elisa Behzadi
Craig Miller
Jeffrey Kim
Megan Cierzan
Mary Nehring
Scott Carver
Zaid Abdo
Sue VandeWoude
author_sort Laura Bashor
collection DOAJ
description Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is the domestic cat analogue of HIV infection in humans. Both viruses induce oral disease in untreated individuals, with clinical signs that include gingivitis and periodontal lesions. Oral disease manifestations in HIV patients are abated by highly effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), though certain oral manifestations persist despite therapy. Microorganisms associated with oral cavity opportunistic infections in patients with HIV cause similar pathologies in cats. To further develop this model, we evaluated characteristics of feline oral health and the oral microbiome during experimental FIV infection over an 8-month period following cART. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we evaluated gingival bacterial communities at four timepoints in uninfected and FIV-infected cats treated with either cART or placebo. Comprehensive oral examinations were also conducted by a veterinary dental specialist over the experimental period. Gingival inflammation was higher in FIV-infected cats treated with placebo compared to cART-treated cats and the controls at the study endpoint. Oral microbiome alpha diversity increased in all groups, while beta diversity differed among treatment groups, documenting a significant effect of cART therapy on microbiome community composition. This finding has not previously been reported, and indicates cART ameliorates immunodeficiency virus-associated oral disease via the preservation of oral mucosal microbiota. Further, this study illustrates the value of the FIV animal model for investigations of mechanistic associations and therapeutic interventions for HIV’s oral manifestations.
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spelling doaj-art-5a330746d78a4e939bbe9976b24739012025-08-20T02:03:32ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-02-0117225710.3390/v17020257Impacts of Antiretroviral Therapy on the Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Health of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive CatsLaura Bashor0Jennifer E. Rawlinson1Christopher P. Kozakiewicz2Elisa Behzadi3Craig Miller4Jeffrey Kim5Megan Cierzan6Mary Nehring7Scott Carver8Zaid Abdo9Sue VandeWoude10Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USADepartment of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USAW.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USADepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USADepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USAComparative Medicine Research Unit, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USADepartment of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USADepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USAOdum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USADepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USAFeline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is the domestic cat analogue of HIV infection in humans. Both viruses induce oral disease in untreated individuals, with clinical signs that include gingivitis and periodontal lesions. Oral disease manifestations in HIV patients are abated by highly effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), though certain oral manifestations persist despite therapy. Microorganisms associated with oral cavity opportunistic infections in patients with HIV cause similar pathologies in cats. To further develop this model, we evaluated characteristics of feline oral health and the oral microbiome during experimental FIV infection over an 8-month period following cART. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we evaluated gingival bacterial communities at four timepoints in uninfected and FIV-infected cats treated with either cART or placebo. Comprehensive oral examinations were also conducted by a veterinary dental specialist over the experimental period. Gingival inflammation was higher in FIV-infected cats treated with placebo compared to cART-treated cats and the controls at the study endpoint. Oral microbiome alpha diversity increased in all groups, while beta diversity differed among treatment groups, documenting a significant effect of cART therapy on microbiome community composition. This finding has not previously been reported, and indicates cART ameliorates immunodeficiency virus-associated oral disease via the preservation of oral mucosal microbiota. Further, this study illustrates the value of the FIV animal model for investigations of mechanistic associations and therapeutic interventions for HIV’s oral manifestations.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/2/257feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)periodontitisgingivitisoral microbiomeantiretroviral therapy
spellingShingle Laura Bashor
Jennifer E. Rawlinson
Christopher P. Kozakiewicz
Elisa Behzadi
Craig Miller
Jeffrey Kim
Megan Cierzan
Mary Nehring
Scott Carver
Zaid Abdo
Sue VandeWoude
Impacts of Antiretroviral Therapy on the Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Health of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Cats
Viruses
feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
periodontitis
gingivitis
oral microbiome
antiretroviral therapy
title Impacts of Antiretroviral Therapy on the Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Health of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Cats
title_full Impacts of Antiretroviral Therapy on the Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Health of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Cats
title_fullStr Impacts of Antiretroviral Therapy on the Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Health of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Cats
title_full_unstemmed Impacts of Antiretroviral Therapy on the Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Health of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Cats
title_short Impacts of Antiretroviral Therapy on the Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Health of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Cats
title_sort impacts of antiretroviral therapy on the oral microbiome and periodontal health of feline immunodeficiency virus positive cats
topic feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
periodontitis
gingivitis
oral microbiome
antiretroviral therapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/2/257
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