Quantitative relationship of Treponema denticola to severity of periodontal disease

Abstract

The Treponema denticola content of plaque was quantitatively estimated for samples taken from periodontitis patients as well as periodontally healthy subjects among two separate human populations. The populations studied included military volunteers and civilians at a university dental clinic. The plaque samples from each population were grouped according to pocket depth measurements at the collection site. A biotin-avidin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay procedure was developed with a monoclonal antibody specific for a serovariety of T. denticola. T. denticola was present at significantly elevated levels in plaque samples collected from deep-pocket sites of patients with severe periodontitis relative to the healthy controls and a group with moderate disease. The ratio of T. denticola content per milligram of plaque in the deep pocket groups to that of the other two groups was about 2:1 for both populations. This is the first quantitative evidence of a positive relationship between a specific spirochete species and severe periodontitis.

DNA probe detection of periodontopathogens in advanced periodontitis

“…Because of the limited sensitivity of dark-field microscopy and the difficulty of microbioiogic culture, the exact profile or incidence of spirochetes and their association with other bacteria in severe periodontitis sites have not been determined (38). A specific spirochete, T. denticola, has recently been identified; it is present in large numbers in severe periodontifis (39,40). By the DNA probe, it was possible to detect the exact level of T. denticola simultaneously with other periodontopathogens in individual sites.…”

Isolation and characterization of a plasmid from Treponema denticola

“…It has, however, been possible to culture several of the oral treponemes in vitro [2], including Treponema denticola. This organism is attracting increasing interest due to its association with periodontal disease [3][4][5][6][7] where spirochaetes may comprise up to 50% of the microscopically observable subgingival plaque bacteria [8].…”

Molecular pathogenesis of the cell surface proteins and lipids from Treponema denticola

“…Treponema is a Gram-negative microorganism with a spiral shape. Treponema denticola is a resident of the human oral cavity and is predominant in periodontal lesions of adult periodontitis [1,2], the most common infectious disease in the middle-aged and the elderly. It is commonly accepted that periodontitis is caused by T. denticola and speci¢c Gramnegative bacteria including Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Bacteroides forsythus [3].…”