Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis of the effect of gingival disorders in cell blood count and serum alkaline phosphatase.
Design: Clinical case series study.
Animals: In this study 100 dogs that were referred for vaccination to Tehran University, Small Animal Hospital of Veterinary Faculty were selected.
Procedure: All animals - after their owner permission - were anesthetized with Ketamine and Acepromazine combination in recommended doses. After clinical examinations of their oral cavities and teeth ,they were cathegorized in three groups: 1) Healthy gingiva, 2) Inflamation of gingiva(gingivitis), 3) Inflammation of Periodontium(Periodontitis). In all animals about 5 ml of blood were collected from cephalic vein poured in tubes containing sodium citrate for CBC and remaining in tubes without any anticoagulants for AIP measurement.
Statistical analysis: One way ANOVA and Tukey test.
Results: leukocyte count in healthy animals and in groups with gingivitis and periodontitis were 9552.34±384.98,
12506.82±1046.58 and 4303.57±305.47 in microliter respectively. As it is obvious the leukocyte number in dogs with periodontitis is significantly lesser than two other groups. Neutrophils, band cells and lymphocytes more than other leukocytes were involved for the leukopenia. Mean neutrophil
count was 6655.95±282.91 / µ l, in healthy groups 9106.93±794.69 /µl, in gingivitis group and 2948.43±221.04 / µ l in group with periodontal disease. There were no significant difference in AIP determination in three groups.
Conclusions: Although CBC can be used in diagnosis or evaluation of response to treatment probably, Serum AIP is not useful for this purpose and other means such as measurement of this enzyme in gingival sulcus should be studied. Besides
leukopenia in dogs with periodontitis can predispose them to invasion of secondry opportunistic organisms. J. Fac. Vet. Med. Univ. Tehran. 57, 1: 83-86, 2002.
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