Quantification of periodontal pathogens by paper point sampling from the coronal and apical aspect of periodontal lesions by real-time PCR

Abstract

The present study compared the recovery of six periodontal pathogens by paper point samples from two different aspects of periodontal lesions by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Twenty patients with untreated chronic periodontitis were randomized into two groups. Before subgingival instrumentation and after 10 weeks samples in group A were taken first with a paper point half length (HP) of the probing depth, then with a paper point full length (FP) at the same site. In group B sampling sequence was reversed. Analysis by real-time PCR enabled quantification of six bacteria as well as total bacterial count (TBC). Statistical analysis included t test, Kappa, and Spearman's correlations. Higher TBC could be harvested by use of FP than by HP (mean of differences of ln-transformed counts before therapy: -0.791, CI [-1.515, -0.068], SD 0.770, p = 0.034; after therapy: -0.563, CI [-1.151, 0.024], SD 0.625, p = 0.059). The plaque composition regarding total target pathogens was similar for both samples. Both, for TBC as well as for single target bacteria a strong positive correlation was found between HP and FP (Kappa, Spearman correlation: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans 0.807, 0.778; Fusobacterium nucleatum 0.573, 0.772; Porphyromonas gingivalis 0.733, 0.824; Prevotella intermedia 0.480, 0.756; Treponema denticola 0.807, 0.814; and Tannerella forsythia 0.692, 0.695). The recovery of target pathogens was similar following sampling at various depths of the periodontal lesion.

Occurrence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in Brazilians with chronic periodontitis

“…2 Particularly, in the oral cavity A. actinomycetemcomitans has been strongly associated with aggressive periodontitis in several epidemiological studies, however, less investigated in chronic periodontitis patients. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] This bacterium expresses several putative virulence factors which enable it to colonize the oral cavity, invade periodontal tissues and evade host defenses. 11 Additionally, different serotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans have been shown to be associated with periodontal health and disease.…”

Highly Specific Protease-Based Approach for Detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis in Diagnosis of Periodontitis

“…Moreover, this is a mere effect measurement and this does not help to identify causative agents. Culture-based, nucleic acid-based, and antibody-based diagnostic methods are available to help identify the periodontal pathogens involved, which is important to determine suitable therapeutic procedures invoking the highest chance of therapeutic success (6,14,19). Still, cultivation or using nucleic acid-based and immunochemical tests to identify periodontal pathogens can be very laborious and timeconsuming.…”

Detection of subgingival periodontal pathogens—comparison of two sampling strategies

“…However, paper points have some disadvantages: If they become wet by gingival crevicular fluid, they lose stiffness making it difficult to move them to the bottom of the pocket. Jervoe-Storm et al compared the recovery of six periodontal pathogens by paper point samples from different aspects of the lesion (full-length or half-length of the pocket depth) in 20 patients: The authors found out that the recovery of the target pathogens was similar following sampling at various depths of the periodontal lesions [34]. Another disadvantage is that different paper points placed in the same pocket at the same time and for the same period of time may not sample the same microorganisms [22].…”