Background Chronic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is associated with reduced saliva flow rate due to infiltration of HIV and proliferation of CD8 lymphocytes in salivary glands. It is unclear whether HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) increase caries risk. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with dental caries in HIV infected adults attending the Mulago Immune Suppression Syndrome (ISS) clinic in Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV infected persons. Dental examinations were performed by two calibrated dentists using the WHO Radke’s caries classification criteria and reported using the decayed (D), missing (M), filled (F), teeth (DMFT) index. The prevalence and factors associated with dental caries was examined through linear regression analyses. Results Overall, 748 participants (females = 491, 65.6%) with a mean age of 39 ± 9.4 years were included in the final analysis; of whom 83.7% had caries (DMFT> 0), with a significantly ( p < 0.05) higher prevalence among females 86.6% than males 78.2%. The mean DMFT was 5.9 ± 5.5, with statistically significant differences based on gender (males 4.9 ± 4.8 and females 6.3 ± 5.9, p < 0.05) and duration on ART (< 2 years 4.8 ± 4.4, > 2 years but < 5 years 5.7 ± 5.5, > 5 years 6.6 ± 6.0 p < 0.05). The majority (67.2%) of participants reported brushing their teeth twice or more a day, and sugar intake was not associated with dental caries. Conclusion Caries prevalence is high among HIV infected adults under care. Duration of ART was associated with increased risk and severity of caries. Therefore, we recommend integration of dental care in HIV treatment programs.

BackgroundThe estimated number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLHIV) in Uganda is 1.5 million (7.3%). As of June 2016, 60% (898,197) of PLHIV were enrolled and receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). In scientific literature, the effect of HIV and ART on dental caries remains equivocal. At the Prosthetics Clinic of the Department of Dentistry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, we have seen a number of PLHIV who require replacement of missing teeth with partial or complete dentures as a result of extensive caries. Here we report a case of an HIV positive female patient with extensive dental caries resulting in complete edentulous jaws, associated with psychological stress and stigmatization.Case presentationA 52-year-old patient, HIV positive for fourteen (14) years and receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for the last four years wanted to replace her missing teeth for effective feeding and cosmetic reasons. A diagnosis of partially edentulous maxillary and mandibular arches, cervical caries of tooth # 12, 15, 25, 34 and retained roots of tooth # 11, 13, 22 and 35 was made. Following oral health education and mouth preparation, this patient received a set of removable acrylic full upper and lower dentures.ConclusionThis case may represent the long-term effects of HIV and ART on oral health status especially tooth surfaces in some PLHIV. Further evaluation is required to ascertain if this was an isolated case or it is a common finding among HIV positive adult patients receiving long-term ART in sub-Saharan Africa. Information emerging from these studies would establish the magnitude of dental caries among PLHIV and guide the development of appropriate oral health care guidelines in the management of people living with HIV.

BackgroundDental caries is a multifactorial disease that affects many people. Even though microorganisms play a crucial role in causing dental caries, diagnosis is routinely macroscopic. In order to improve early detection especially in HIV patients who are disproportionately affected, there is need to reconcile the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of dental caries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the oral microbiota profile along the decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index using amplicon sequencing data.MethodsAmplicon sequencing of the V6-V8 region of the 16S rRNA gene was done on DNA recovered from whole unstimulated saliva of 59 HIV positive and 29 HIV negative individuals. The microbial structure, composition and co-occurrence networks were characterized using QIIME-2, Phyloseq, Microbiome-1.9.2 and Metacoder in R.ResultsWe characterized the oral microbiota into 2,093 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), 21 phyla and 239 genera from 2.6 million high quality sequence reads. While oral microbiota did not cluster participants into distinct groups that track with the DMFT index, we observed the following: (a) The proportion of accessory microbiota was highest in the high DMFT category while the core size (∼50% of richness) remained relatively stable across all categories. (b) The abundance of core genera such as Stomatobaculum, Peptostreptococcus and Campylobacter was high at onset of dental caries, (c) A general difference in oral microbial biomass. (d) The onset of dental caries (low DMFT) was associated with significantly lower oral microbial entropy.ConclusionsAlthough oral microbial shifts along the DMFT index were not distinct, we demonstrated the potential utility of microbiota dynamics to characterize oral disease. Therefore, we propose a microbial framework using the DMFT index to better understand dental caries among HIV positive people in resource limited settings.

Background: Oral disease pathogenesis is primarily driven by microbial dysbiosis although diagnosis is routinely macroscopic. To improve early detection especially in HIV patients who are disproportionately affected, there is need to reconcile macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of disease. This study aimed to use amplicon sequencing data to characterize oral microbiota changes along the decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index.Methods: Amplicon sequencing of the V6-V8 region of the 16S rRNA gene was done on DNA recovered from whole unstimulated saliva of 59 HIV positive and 29 HIV negative individuals, respectively. The microbial structure, composition and co-occurrence networks were characterized using QIIME-2, Phyloseq, Microbiome-1.9.2 and Metacoder in R.Results: From a total of 2.6 million high quality sequence reads obtained, we characterized the oral microbiota into 2,093 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), 21 phyla and 239 genera. While oral microbiota did not cluster participants into distinct groups that track with the DMFT index, we observed the following: a) A steady increase in accessory microbiota while the core size (~50% of richness) remained stable. b) The abundance of core genera such as Stomatobaculum, Peptostreptococcus and Campylobacter increased at onset of pathology (low DMFT), c) A general increase in oral microbial biomass with a typical log difference between gingivitis and periodontitis. d) The onset of pathology (low DMFT) was associated with massive reduction in oral microbial entropy.Conclusions: Although oral microbial shifts along the DMFT index are not distinct, we have demonstrated the potential utility of microbiota dynamics to inform oral disease characteristics. We therefore propose a framework to inform future clinical oral metagenomic studies especially among HIV positive persons in resource limited settings.