Prevalence analysis of putative periodontal pathogens in patients with aggressive periodontitis and healthy elderly a molecular study

by Edesi-Neuss, Lilian

A multifactorial risk pattern of periodontitis has been recognized, where in addition to host and environmental factors, a pathogenic microbiota plays a primary role. The purpose of the current research was to analyze the prevalence of periodontitis-associated microorganisms in patients with aggressive periodontitis and periodontally healthy elders by using molecular-biologic detection methods like eubacterial PCR-amplification of 16S rDNA in combination with dot-blot hybridization. The oligonucleotide probes for the detection of T. forsythensis, P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, C. rectus, F. nucleatum, Fusobacterium spp., P. intermedia, E. corrodens, V. parvula and C. ochracea were designed and evaluated. The PCR products of 42 cultivated target and closely related bacteria were used for the optimization of hybridization conditions. For the epidemiological study, subgingival plaque was sampled from four pockets and one healthy site of 45 aggressive periodontitis patients as well as from five sites of 21 elderly. The differences in the prevalence of bacterial species were analyzed by the chi-square test. The data revealed frequent colonization by T. forsythensis, P. gingivalis, F. nucleatum and C. rectus in patients with aggressive periodontitis, however individual variations were obvious. These species could be predominantly identified in periodontal pockets, but were significantly less common in the healthy sites of the periodontitis patients and in the elderly. These putative pathogens can be conclusively determined as the key-bacteria in patients with aggressive periodontitis. No direct association for P. intermedia and E. corrodens with aggressive periodontitis or periodontal health could be seen. A. actinomycetemcomitans could be detected in only a few patients, reducing its suspected importance in the etiology of aggressive periodontitis. C. ochracea was highly prevalent in the well-maintained elderly, suggesting its association with healthy flora. The results of the study confirmed the reliability of the oligonucleotide probes in a specific and sensitive detection of the respective oral species.