Antimicrobial efficacy of an innovative emulsion of medium chain triglycerides against canine and feline periodontopathogens.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To test the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of a non-toxic emulsion of free fatty acids against clinically relevant canine and feline periodontopathogens METHODS: Antimicrobial kill kinetics were established utilising an alamarBlue(&#xae;) viability assay against 10 species of canine and feline periodontopathogens in the biofilm mode of growth at a concentration of 0&#xb7;125% v/v medium chain triglyceride (ML:8) emulsion. The results were compared with 0&#xb7;12% v/v chlorhexidine digluconate and a xylitol-containing dental formulation. Mammalian cellular cytotoxicity was also investigated for both the ML:8 emulsion and chlorhexidine digluconate (0&#xb7;25 to 0&#xb7;0625% v/v) using in vitro tissue culture techniques. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed in the antimicrobial activity of the ML:8 emulsion and chlorhexidine digluconate; a high percentage kill rate (>70%) was achieved within 5 minutes of exposure and was maintained at subsequent time points. A statistically significant improvement in antibiofilm activity was observed with the ML:8 emulsion compared with the xylitol-containing formulation. The ML:8 emulsion possessed a significantly lower (P < 0&#xb7;001) toxicity profile compared with the chlorhexidine digluconate in mammalian cellular cytotoxicity assays. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The ML:8 emulsion exhibited significant potential as a putative effective antimicrobial alternative to chlorhexidine- and xylitol- based products for the reduction of canine and feline periodontopathogens.