Comparative analysis of c-reactive protein levels in the saliva and serum of dogs with various diseases

Objective: We performed this study to characterize the difference between inflammatory and non-inflammatory status in diseased dogs by measurement of salivary C-reactive protein (CRP). In addition, we assessed whether a correlation exists between CRP levels in saliva and those in serum. Materials and Methods: CRP levels were measured in 32 client-owned dogs, which were then divided into inflammation and non-inflammation groups based on serum CRP level. Results: The salivary CRP level was higher in the inflammation group than in the noninflammation group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between salivary and serum CRP levels (R = 0.866, p < 0.001). Conclusion: These data suggest that canine salivary CRP measurements can effectively and non-invasively detect an inflammatory state in dogs.