Distribution of oral Haemophilus species in dental plaque from a large adult population

Abstract

The periodontal status of maxillary first molars in 284 young adults demonstrating near-health to early disease was evaluated, and supragingival and subgingival plaque samples were collected. Plaque samples were processed anaerobically, enumerated microscopically for bacterial morphotypes, and cultivated on various media to enumerate the microflora. Although haemophili were ubiquitous (recovered in 98.5 and 96.2% of the supragingival and subgingival plaque samples, respectively), 50% of the respective samples had proportions of .1.5% and c0.33% total Haemophilus spp. based on total cultivable microflora. To study the distribution of Haemophilus spp., 377 colonies were identified from modified chocolate agar (selective for oral haemophili) from 14 supragingival and corresponding subgingival samples from 14 subjects. The most prevalent species, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, was found in significantly higher proportidns, based on total haemophili on modified chocolate agar, in supragingival and subgingival samples from teeth with shallower probing depths (.3.0 mm) versus deeper probing depths (.3.0 mm). Additional statistically significant findings included Haemophilus segnis in higher proportions in supragingival samples from deeper sites, Haemophilus aphrophilus in higher proportions in subgingival samples from deeper sites, and Haemophilus paraphrophilus in higher proportions in subgingival samples from shallower sites. Scatter diagrams illustrating the bivariate distributions of proportions of haemophili with proportions of dark-pigmented Bacteroides spp., spirochetes, and streptococci demonstrated that high proportions of haemophili were never recovered from sites with high proportions of Bacteroides spp. or spirochetes. All levels of haemophili, however, were recovered from sites with all levels of streptococci. Two potential systems for interpreting haemophili data were hypothesized for predicting periodontal probing depths. There was highly significant agreement between the two systems. Small but statistically significant correlations were found between the gingival index, probing depth, and attachment level, and proportions of total Haemophilus species in the respective samples.

An in vitro method to study the adherence of bacteria to saliva‐treated tooth enamel sections

“…S. sanguis has been reported to be one of the earliest colonizers of cleaned tooth surfaces in the oral cavity (5) and is a major constituent of dental plaque (2, 14), whereas S. salivarius is found in very low proportions on teeth in vivo (2,14). Similarly, the results of the Capttocytophaga and Vcittotretta species which demonstrated a high affinity and Haetnopttitus aphrophittts that possessed a low affinity for tooth enamel agree with the //) vivo distribution of these bacteria (11,13,14,20,21).…”

Do probiotics offer opportunities to manipulate the periodontal oral microbiota?

“…but used streptococci as effector strains. The use of the selected effector strains was supported by a series of in vitro experiments or clinical observations that these strains (1) could inhibit the growth of periodontopathogens (Hillman et al 1985, Tanzer et al 1985, (2) were associated clinically with periodontal health (Liljemark et al 1984, Wolff et al 1985, Ximenez-Fyvie et al 2000a or (3) could inhibit the colonization of periodontopathogens towards hard and soft tissues (Teughels et al 2007a, Van Hoogmoed et al 2008b).…”

Comparison of the distribution of Actinomyces in dental plaque on inserted enamel and natural tooth surfaces in periodontal health and disease

“…The cross-sectional clinical study examined 284 adults exhibiting periodontal health to moderate periodontitis. Volunteers were selected from men and women ranging in age from 19 to 62 from patients presenting at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry for treatment (30). Of the teeth examined in 284 adults in the cross-sectional study, 205 of them had valid data for all 3 Actinomyces spp.…”

“…Individual supragingival plaque samples were obtained from the mesiobuccal surfaces of each maxillary first molar with sterile, nickel-plated, Gracey 11/12 curet tips held in a hemostat as previously described (30). The curet tips with the plaque satnples were placed in 4-ml conical vials (American Hospital Supplies, McGraw Park, IL) containing 1.0 ml PRAS diluent and irnmcdiately transferred to the anaerobic chamber.…”

“…Haemophilus spp. were enumerated on modified chocolate (MC) agar, as previously described (30). The MC agar was incubated in 10% CO2 at 37 C for 3 days.…”