Recent investigations suggest that the viruses of the family Herpesviridae are associated with periodontal disease, demonstrating a possible association with the presence of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) in periodontal tissues. Aim: To analyze the association between the presence of HSV-1, HCMV and EBV in patients with chronic or aggressive periodontitis. Methods: Crevicular fluid samples were collected from 11 patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP), 11 with chronic periodontitis (CP) and 11 healthy control subjects (CG). The following clinical parameters were measured: plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depths (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL). Viral detection was performed by PCR for HSV-1, HCMV and EBV. Results: HCMV was detected in 27.3% of AgP patients but not detected in CP and healthy subjects; HSV-1 in 27.3% of AgP and CP group and in 9.1% of CG. EBV-1 was detected in 18.2% of CP patients and 9.1% of the CG. HCMV and HSV-1 coinfection was detected in 18.8% of AgP patients and 9.09% of viral coinfection between HSV-1 and VEB, within the CP group. The AgP group exhibited the higher values for all clinical parameters evaluated, respect to the CP and control group. Conclusion: The presence of HCMV may be related to periodontal disease, specifically in cases of AgP, and it may play a synergistic role with other infectious agents from the oral cavity associated with the development of periodontitis.

Abstract:Objective: To detect the presence of infection by EBV (Epstein-Barr

Mucous membranes are the main route of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Interestingly, some viral inhibitory activities have been found in saliva. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to gp41 in HIV+ patients at various disease stages to identify whether gp41 was able to induce vigorous humoral responses. Unstimulated saliva samples were obtained from three groups of subjects (n=37): group A (HIV-), group B (HIV+, CD4+ <200/mm3), and group C (HIV+, CD4+ >200/mm3). IgA antibody levels to purified gp41 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot analyses were performed using HIV+ saliva to confirm IgA reactivity to gp41. ELISA demonstrated that HIV+ subjects had higher IgA antibody to gp41 than HIV- individuals. No significant differences were noted between HIV+, CD4+ <200/mm3 and CD4+ >200/mm3 subjects. High (81.25%) IgA reactivity to gp41 was demonstrated by Western blotting of saliva from all HIV+ individuals. In conclusion, gp41 responses are important in the HIV disease process, as indicated by the high IgA levels and gp41 reactivity in saliva of HIV+ patients.

Objetivo. Evaluar los niveles de mediadores químicos inflamatorios como la interleucina- 1α (IL-1α), interleucina-1β (IL-1β), factor de necrosis tumoral-α (TNF-α) y los parámetros clínicos en pacientes diagnosticados con periodontitis crónica o agresiva, antes y después de la terapia periodontal no quirúrgica (TPNQ). Métodos. Se tomaron muestras de fluido gingival crevicular (FGC) en 11 pacientes diagnosticados con periodontitis y 11 controles sanos para evaluar niveles de IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α antes y después de la TPNQ, mediante la técnica de ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay). Resultados. En el grupo con periodontitis se observó disminución significativa de los parámetros clínicos después del tratamiento (p<0,05). En FGC, IL-1β presentó los niveles más elevados, seguido de IL-1α y TNF-α. Posterior a la TPNQ, IL-1β disminuyó 17 veces su concentración e IL-1α 4 veces en relación a los valores iniciales, sin embargo, solo se observó una relación estadísticamente significativa para TNF-α. Las mayores correlaciones con los parámetros clínicos de la enfermedad periodontal se observaron para IL-1β (p<0,01), seguido por IL-1α (p<0,05) y una baja correlación con TNF-α. Conclusiones. En este trabajo, el grupo de pacientes con periodontitis presentó mayores niveles de IL-1α, IL-1β y TNF-α en FGC, siendo IL-1β la citocina más elevada. Posterior al TPNQ, se observó disminución significativa de los valores clínicos periodontales. Así mismo, las interleucinas redujeron sus valores promedios, sin alcanzar los del grupo control. Las correlaciones observadas entre los índices periodontales y los mediadores sugieren mayor correlación de IL-1β con los signos clínicos de la enfermedad periodontal.