Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter- and intra-observer reliability of quantitative sensory testing performed with the SMall animal ALGOmeter (SMALGO) in healthy cats and in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis (CGS), and to evaluate the SMALGO as a tool to detect and quantify pain in cats with CGS. Thirty cats from a private shelter were included and assigned to one of two groups: group C (healthy cats; n = 15) or group CGS (cats with CGS; n = 15). In all cats the mechanical thresholds were measured with the SMALGO, with the sensor tip applied to the superior lip above the canine root, by two independent investigators (A, experienced; B, unexperienced), on two different occasions (day 1 and day 2) with a 24 h interval. A CGS scale was used in the diseased cats to assess the severity of the condition. For the reliability analysis, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. Other statistical tests used were Pearson correlation coefficient and a paired t-test. The inter- and intra-observer levels of agreement were fair (ICC = 0.50) and good, respectively (ICC = 0.73 for investigator A; ICC = 0.60 for investigator B). However, the thresholds measured in healthy cats (169 ± 59 g) did not differ from those obtained from diseased cats (156 ± 82 g; P = 0.35). There was no correlation between the scores of the CGS scale and the thresholds measured in diseased cats (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.047; P = 0.87). Quantitative sensory testing performed with the SMALGO in cats is repeatable and reliable, regardless of the expertise of the investigator. However, the findings of this study suggest that the mechanical thresholds measured with the SMALGO may not be a valuable indicator of pain in cats with CGS.
Highlights
The feline chronic gingivo-stomatitis (CGS) is a severe inflammatory disease of the oral cavity that can affect cats of every age
The score of the CGS obtained from the diseased cats was 7 [3-12]
The number of animals used in this study may be too small, the application site of the sensor tip may not be the most appropriate to detect chronic pain associated to gingivo-stomatitis, the mechanical thresholds may not increase in cats with gingivo-stomatitis or, alternatively, the SMALGO may not be sensitive enough to differentiate between buccal pain and normal sensory response
Summary
The feline chronic gingivo-stomatitis (CGS) is a severe inflammatory disease of the oral cavity that can affect cats of every age. It differentiates from gingivitis in the fact that inflammation extends to the mucogingival junction, and to the oral mucosa.[1]. The condition may involve different areas such as gingiva, alveolar mucosa, fauces, pharynx, tongue, palate and labio-buccal and caudal oral mucosa.[2] It is characterised by pain, swollen, ulcerated or bleeding gums, hypersalivation, halitosis, anorexia, dysphagia, weight loss and enlarged submandibular lymph nodes, and it can severely affect the quality of life of the affected cats, as well as their behaviour.[3,4] The prevalence of the disease is high, accounting for the 0.7 -. The exact ethiology of FCGS is still unknown, it is widely recognised that many factors, namely environmental factors, dental disease, various bacterial and viral infections, immune response and stress, contribute to its development.[3,4,5]
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