Ali Hussein Fadhil 1, Mohammed Asaad S 1, Alkabi Azhar Hamzah Hussein 1, Fatema Ali AL Kafhage *,2, Hiba Alameri 3 and Rana A. Jawad 1
1Department of Internal and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Karbala, Iraq; 2Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Karbala, Iraq; 3Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Karbala, Iraq
*Corresponding author: fatimah.m@uokerbala.edu.iq
The second most prevalent oral disease in cats is periodontal disease caused by anaerobic bacteria, mostly of the genus Porphyromonas gulae. Incomplete resistance reduces uptake, and new antibiotic-based treatments targeting biofilm-forming pathogens may also be ineffective against this group. The Aim: This study aimed to assay antibacterial activities of garlic (Allium sativum), neem (Azadirachta indica), and miswak extracts against Porphyromonas species isolated from cats. Domestic cats were screened; oropharyngeal swabs yielded bacteria that were isolated on selective anaerobic media and subsequently identified using standard biochemical methods. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using plant extracts at 0.5, 1.5, 3, and 5 mg/mL through the well diffusion method. All 3 extracts exhibited concentration-dependent inhibitory activity against the previously tested pathogenic strains. Inhibition of bacterial growth was 33 to 48% with garlic at a dose of 5 mg/mL and correlated with P<0.01, as verified by the inhibition growth ratio, which decreased significantly in change (%) from the bacteria's initial count: control (80); significant values decreased after the addition of antagonistic agents, as follows: Garlic = 23.67 ± 0.882. Inhibition zones were recorded. Microbial membrane disruption, as well as inhibition of metabolic enzyme activity that may also affect biofilm formation, is specifically attributed to the antimicrobial effects of certain compounds, such as allicin (garlic), nimbidin, and flavonoids (neem), or benzyl isothiocyanate from miswak. These results suggest that garlic, neem, and miswak extracts are potent natural adjunctive agents against periodontal pathogens infecting cats. However, before their introduction into veterinary clinical practice, larger in vivo studies are needed to determine important therapeutic parameters such as optimal dose and duration of treatment, as well as safety.