Quantification of five putative periodontal pathogens in female patients with and without chronic periodontitis by real-time polymerase chain reaction

• Published in: Anaerobe Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 234 - 239
• Main Authors: Braga, Renato R.R., Carvalho, Maria Auxiliadora R., Bruña-Romero, Oscar, Teixeira, Rodrigo E., Costa, José Eustáquio, Mendes, Edilberto N., Farias, Luiz M., Magalhães, Paula P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans - genetics; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans - isolation & purification; Chronic periodontitis; Chronic Periodontitis - microbiology; Colony Count, Microbial; Data processing; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Eikenella corrodens; Eikenella corrodens - genetics; Eikenella corrodens - isolation & purification; Female; Fusobacterium nucleatum - genetics; Fusobacterium nucleatum - isolation & purification; Humans; Middle Aged; Oral microbiota; Periodontal diseases; Periodontal pathogens; Periodontal Pocket; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Porphyromonas gingivalis - genetics; Porphyromonas gingivalis - isolation & purification; Prevotella intermedia - genetics; Prevotella intermedia - isolation & purification; Real-time PCR; Periodontal diseases; Periodontal pathogens; Oral microbiota; Chronic periodontitis; Real-time PCR
• ISSN: 1075-9964; 1095-8274
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2010.02.007

Chronic periodontitis is a highly prevalent endogenous polymicrobial disease. To better understand the etiology of the disease a quantitative approach is mandatory and real-time PCR is the molecular technique currently preferred to achieve this purpose. Taking into account that such a kind of study is still scarce, we aimed to evaluate the association between periodontal microbiota and chronic periodontitis. A total of 60 low-income age-matched female adults, 30 with chronic periodontitis and 30 without periodontal disease, were enrolled. DNA obtained from subgingival specimens was used for quantification of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia by real-time PCR. A. actinomycetemcomitans, E. corrodens, and F. nucleatum were detected in all subjects, P. gingivalis was observed in 70.0% and 46.6% and P. intermedia in 90.0% and 80.0% of chronic periodontitis patients and periodontally healthy subjects, respectively. P. gingivalis mean count was significantly higher in patients with chronic periodontitis than in periodontally healthy individuals. Accurate detection and quantification of five putative periodontal pathogens was feasible using a simple and fast real-time PCR protocol. Although P. gingivalis and P. intermedia have been found more commonly in chronic periodontitis patients, no statistical difference was observed between periodontally diseased and healthy groups. Quantitative data indicated association between P. gingivalis and chronic periodontitis. However, because of its uneven distribution, it should not be solely taken as a marker of periodontal status.