Computed Tomographic Study in 73 Pet Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) :: Evaluation of the Correlation Between Dental and Thoracic Pathology

Glenda Murciano; Iván Alonso-Fernández; Rosa Novellas Torroja; Osvaldo Fonseca Rodríguez; Jaume Martorell Montserrat

doi:10.3390/ani16020342

Computed Tomographic Study in 73 Pet Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) : Evaluation of the Correlation Between Dental and Thoracic Pathology

Glenda Murciano, Iván Alonso-Fernández, Rosa Novellas Torroja, Osvaldo Fonseca Rodríguez, Jaume Martorell Montserrat

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Resum

Background: Les malalties dentals i respiratòries són comunes en els conills de companyia. Tot i que s'han descrit trastorns del tracte respiratori superior associats a la patologia dental, encara no s'ha investigat la possible correlació entre les malalties dentals i les lesions pulmonars. Mètodes: Es va dur a terme un estudi transversal amb conills propietat dels clients que van presentar una malaltia dental sospitosa i es van sotmetre a tomografia computaritzada del cap i el tòrax (2ль 2012-2025) en un hospital universitari veterinari. Setanta-tres conills complien els criteris d'inclusió (edat mitjana de 4,96 anys). Resultats: La implicació dental es va observar en el 81% (59/73) dels conills i les lesions pulmonars en el 29% (21/73). Entre els conills amb malaltia dental, les troballes òssies freqüents incloïen osteomielitis (49%), reabsorció inflamatòria (42%) i deformitats maxil·lars (33%). Les anomalies pulmonars es van produir en el 32% dels conills amb malaltia dental comparat al 14% d'aquells sense. En els models de Poisson amb ajust log-link ajustat per edat i sexe, la malaltia dental no es va associar significativament a les lesions pulmonars (ràtio de prevalença [PR] 2.14; IC del 95%: 0.55-8.38; p = 0.275). Les anàlisis de sensibilitat utilitzant l'ajust per a la igualtat d'un a un amb variància robusta (PR 3.24; IC del 95%: 0.65-16.1; p = 0.152) i estimació doblement robusta ponderada per solapament (PR 2.08; IC del 95%: 0.42-10.4; p = 0.371) van donar resultats direccionalment positius però imprecisos. Conclusions: La tomografia computaritzada va demostrar ser valuosa per a l'avaluació de les comorbiditats toràciques en els conills amb malaltia dental. Tot i que sovint s'observen anomalies dentals i pulmonars juntes, no es va establir una associació estadísticament significativa. Es justifiquen estudis prospectius més amplis per aclarir encara més aquesta relació.

Idioma original	Anglès
Número d’article	342
Revista	Animals
Volum	16
Número	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020342
Estat de la publicació	Publicada - 22 de gen. 2026

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10.3390/ani16020342

https://ddd.uab.cat/record/325690

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@article{5959d76d9311435ab9a60de1116a9356,

title = "Computed Tomographic Study in 73 Pet Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) :: Evaluation of the Correlation Between Dental and Thoracic Pathology",

abstract = "Background: Dental and respiratory diseases are common in companion rabbits. While upper respiratory tract disorders have been described in association with dental pathology, the possible correlation between dental disease and pulmonary lesions has not yet been investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on client-owned rabbits presented for suspected dental disease that underwent head and thoracic computed tomography (2012-2025) at a veterinary teaching hospital. Seventy-three rabbits met the inclusion criteria (mean age 4.96 years). Results: Dental involvement was present in 81\% (59/73) of the rabbits and pulmonary lesions in 29\% (21/73). Among rabbits with dental disease, frequent osseous findings included osteomyelitis (49\%), inflammatory resorption (42\%), and maxillary deformities (33\%). Pulmonary abnormalities occurred in 32\% of rabbits with dental disease compared to 14\% of those without. In Poisson models with log link adjusted for age and sex, dental disease was not significantly associated with pulmonary lesions (prevalence ratio [PR] 2.14; 95\% CI 0.55-8.38; p = 0.275). Sensitivity analyses using 1:1 matching with cluster-robust variance (PR 3.24; 95\% CI 0.65-16.1; p = 0.152) and overlap-weighted doubly robust estimation (PR 2.08; 95\% CI 0.42-10.4; p = 0.371) yielded directionally positive but imprecise results. Conclusions: Computed tomography proved valuable for the evaluation of thoracic comorbidities in rabbits with dental disease. Although dental and pulmonary abnormalities were often observed together, a statistically significant association was not established. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to further clarify this relationship.",

keywords = "Oryctolagus cuniculus, Dental disease, Odontogenic infection, Oral-lung axis, Thoracic pathology, Computed tomography",

author = "Glenda Murciano and Iv{\'a}n Alonso-Fern{\'a}ndez and \{Novellas Torroja\}, Rosa and \{Fonseca Rodr{\'i}guez\}, Osvaldo and \{Martorell Montserrat\}, Jaume",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 by the authors.",

year = "2026",

month = jan,

day = "22",

doi = "10.3390/ani16020342",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

journal = "Animals",

issn = "2076-2615",

publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",

number = "2",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Computed Tomographic Study in 73 Pet Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) :

T2 - Evaluation of the Correlation Between Dental and Thoracic Pathology

AU - Murciano, Glenda

AU - Alonso-Fernández, Iván

AU - Novellas Torroja, Rosa

AU - Fonseca Rodríguez, Osvaldo

AU - Martorell Montserrat, Jaume

PY - 2026/1/22

Y1 - 2026/1/22

N2 - Background: Dental and respiratory diseases are common in companion rabbits. While upper respiratory tract disorders have been described in association with dental pathology, the possible correlation between dental disease and pulmonary lesions has not yet been investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on client-owned rabbits presented for suspected dental disease that underwent head and thoracic computed tomography (2012-2025) at a veterinary teaching hospital. Seventy-three rabbits met the inclusion criteria (mean age 4.96 years). Results: Dental involvement was present in 81% (59/73) of the rabbits and pulmonary lesions in 29% (21/73). Among rabbits with dental disease, frequent osseous findings included osteomyelitis (49%), inflammatory resorption (42%), and maxillary deformities (33%). Pulmonary abnormalities occurred in 32% of rabbits with dental disease compared to 14% of those without. In Poisson models with log link adjusted for age and sex, dental disease was not significantly associated with pulmonary lesions (prevalence ratio [PR] 2.14; 95% CI 0.55-8.38; p = 0.275). Sensitivity analyses using 1:1 matching with cluster-robust variance (PR 3.24; 95% CI 0.65-16.1; p = 0.152) and overlap-weighted doubly robust estimation (PR 2.08; 95% CI 0.42-10.4; p = 0.371) yielded directionally positive but imprecise results. Conclusions: Computed tomography proved valuable for the evaluation of thoracic comorbidities in rabbits with dental disease. Although dental and pulmonary abnormalities were often observed together, a statistically significant association was not established. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to further clarify this relationship.

AB - Background: Dental and respiratory diseases are common in companion rabbits. While upper respiratory tract disorders have been described in association with dental pathology, the possible correlation between dental disease and pulmonary lesions has not yet been investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on client-owned rabbits presented for suspected dental disease that underwent head and thoracic computed tomography (2012-2025) at a veterinary teaching hospital. Seventy-three rabbits met the inclusion criteria (mean age 4.96 years). Results: Dental involvement was present in 81% (59/73) of the rabbits and pulmonary lesions in 29% (21/73). Among rabbits with dental disease, frequent osseous findings included osteomyelitis (49%), inflammatory resorption (42%), and maxillary deformities (33%). Pulmonary abnormalities occurred in 32% of rabbits with dental disease compared to 14% of those without. In Poisson models with log link adjusted for age and sex, dental disease was not significantly associated with pulmonary lesions (prevalence ratio [PR] 2.14; 95% CI 0.55-8.38; p = 0.275). Sensitivity analyses using 1:1 matching with cluster-robust variance (PR 3.24; 95% CI 0.65-16.1; p = 0.152) and overlap-weighted doubly robust estimation (PR 2.08; 95% CI 0.42-10.4; p = 0.371) yielded directionally positive but imprecise results. Conclusions: Computed tomography proved valuable for the evaluation of thoracic comorbidities in rabbits with dental disease. Although dental and pulmonary abnormalities were often observed together, a statistically significant association was not established. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to further clarify this relationship.

KW - Oryctolagus cuniculus

KW - Dental disease

KW - Odontogenic infection

KW - Oral-lung axis

KW - Thoracic pathology

KW - Computed tomography

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105028578840

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/c8d93584-6091-3601-9e40-3d17025e7ca5/

U2 - 10.3390/ani16020342

DO - 10.3390/ani16020342

M3 - Article

C2 - 41594530

SN - 2076-2615

VL - 16

JO - Animals

JF - Animals

IS - 2

M1 - 342