Epidemiology and transmission of Porphymmonas gingivalis and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans among children and their family members

Abstract

The distribution and transmission of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in 4 families were studied. The families were included, based on the isolation of P. gingivalis from a young child or adolescent. The probands of these 4 families were: a 5-year old periodontally healthy boy; a 17-year old girl with severe generalized juvenile periodontitis; an 11-year old girl with prepubertal periodontitis; 2 sisters, 5 and 17-years old, with untreated severe periodontitis as a component of the Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome. All members of the 4 families were examined clinically and microbiologically for the presence of P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans. Most of the parents appeared to be adult periodontitis patients; the parents of one proband were edentulous. Results showed that in all cases at least one of the parents was positive for P. gingivalis. On the basis of indistinguishable restriction endonuclease patterns (REPs) of P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans isolates from parents and their children, and distinct REPs from unrelated individuals, the present study indicates that P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans were transmitted between parents and their children.

Clonal Diversity and Turnover of Streptococcus mitis bv. 1 on Shedding and Nonshedding Oral Surfaces of Human Infants during the First Year of Life

“…For the mutans streptococci there is evidence of transmission both between parents (28, 39) and from parents, particularly the mother, to their/her children (5,(28)(29)(30)(35)(36)(37). For P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, F. nucleatum, and P. melaninogenica transmission between parents (spouses) (39,43) and their children (2,27,33,42) also is evident. Although transmission of clones may occur within the family unit it appears, for the most part, that the set of clones found within a family unit are unique to that unit and are not shared with other individuals.…”

“…Despite the abundance of commensal bacteria present in the birth canal, none of these are able to successfully colonize the mouth of the infant suggesting that they do not have tropism for the oropharyngeal mucosa. It has been proposed that commensal bacteria are transferred from the primary care-giver (27,29,33,42), external environment (6), and from other areas of the respiratory tract (22,23).Successful colonization depends on the ability of the bacteria to circumvent host innate and acquired immunity in order that they can adhere to oral surfaces and avoid removal via the flushing action of saliva and mastication. Neonatal saliva has been shown to contain secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) antibodies that react with these bacteria (9, 10) but these antibodies appear insufficient to completely block adherence and subsequent colonization.…”

“…Despite the abundance of commensal bacteria present in the birth canal, none of these are able to successfully colonize the mouth of the infant suggesting that they do not have tropism for the oropharyngeal mucosa. It has been proposed that commensal bacteria are transferred from the primary care-giver (27,29,33,42), external environment (6), and from other areas of the respiratory tract (22,23).…”

Potential of Diagnostic Microbiology for Treatment and Prognosis of Dental Caries and Periodontal Diseases

“…Some studies demonstrated that it was possible to delay the colonization and reduce the risk of caries by preventive measures aimed at decreasing mutans levels in mothers (Kohler and Andreen, 1994). Periodontal pathogens such as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans or Porphyromonas gingivalis also seem to be transmitted among family members and acquired from the immediate environment (Alaluusua etai, 1993;Petit et al, 1993).…”

Prevalence of Periodontal Destruction and Putative Periodontal Pathogens in the Same Lebanese Family

“…19,20 There is an evidence for transmission, e.g., from parent to child or between spouses. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Other studies have also shown that if a child harbored periodontal pathogens, then at least one of the parents will exhibit the same genotype of bacteria. 5,[30][31][32] These studies have found that various anaerobic species colonize the edentulous mouths of infants and that saliva may act as a source of some Gram-negative anaerobes.…”