The Effect of Water Bowl Material on Downstream Biofilm Formation in Canines

Voiceover

Presenter(s)

Brodie Thomas

Abstract or Description

Periodontitis, or gum disease, affects over two-thirds of the canine population. This disease is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria on the surface of the teeth. Symptoms of gum disease include bleeding or inflamed gums, loose of missing teeth, weight loss, bloody saliva, and irritability. Thus, this disease can have a huge impact on quality of life in canines. The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the effect of the material of dog’s water bowls on the formation of biofilms. Samples were opportunistically collected over the course of three days, in which a canine companion drank from a provided water bowl. To test our hypothesis, we utilised the following experimental design. First, three separate water bowl materials were used: plastic, ceramic and stainless steel. To evaluate biofilm formation in these containers, 10mL of tap water and 200uL of our inoculum was added. The CFU/mL of each bowl material was calculated over the course of seven days, using an OD reading. This led to results that corroborate stainless steel displays reduced bacterial growth within the water dish, whilst ceramic and plastic materials display log level increases in bacterial growth, respectively. This work ultimately will help pet owners properly manage their water bowls to prevent bacteria accumulation in the water.

Mentor

Dr. Traci Kinkel