Humboldt Journal of Microbiology
Abstract
Like most mammals, canines have copious amounts of bacteria in their oral cavity. While some of these bacteria are beneficial and even necessary to their health, overgrowth of harmful bacterial strains can lead to plaque buildup and gum disease. To combat plaque and bacteria, several products are marketed towards canines. In this study, we aim to explore how the microbiome of the canine mouth is affected by a potential probiotic, Enterococcus faecalis, and an antimicrobial water additive found in dog mouthwash products, Cetylpyridinium chloride monohydrate (CCM). We hypothesized that both would be successful in their ability to decrease harmful bacteria. Their relative effectiveness is lacking in literature, however, we expect the CCM to be more effective due to its antimicrobial properties. In this study, we explore this idea by isolating what we believe to be three strains of environmental bacteria based on morphology from a canine's mouth and assessing their ability to grow in nutrient broth containing the probiotic and CCM. We then plated these samples and calculated the original concentration of bacterial growth. We found a significant difference in the abundance of bacteria between the two treatments and the control. CCM inhibited all growth, and Enterococcus faecalis significantly decreased bacterial growth. Both the CCM and Enterococcus faecalis show promising results on adjusting the mouth's microbiome. CCM could potentially harm gut bacteria, making its use in water additives for dogs potentially harmful as it would reach their digestive systems.
Recommended Citation
Espinola, Quigley D.; Renner, Scarlet; Cline, Curtis; Lopez-Orenday, Sophia; and Yasumatsu, Alex
(2025)
"Use of Enterococcus faecalis and Cetylpyridinium Chloride in Altering Canine Mouth Microbiome,"
Humboldt Journal of Microbiology: Vol. 24, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/hjm/vol24/iss1/4