The impact of the maternal's periodontal status on the detection of periodontal pathogens in newborn children

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of the mother's periodontal clinical status on the prevalence of periodontal pathogens in newborns. Methods: Seventy-six pairs of newborns and their biological mothers were selected. After a periodontal examination, the mother-child pairs were divided into two groups according to their maternal periodontal clinical status: mothers with (Group A, n=33) or without periodontitis (Group B, n=43). The oral colonization of newborns by five periodontopathogens (A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. intermedia, P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and C. rectus) was determined using a DNA-specific PCR method. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test at the significant level of 0.05. Results: C. rectus was the most prevalent species observed (23.25%) in Group B, while in Group A P. gingivalis (96.97%) had the highest detection rate, followed by T. forsythia (60.60%) and P. intermedia (39.39%). Between-groups comparisons showed a greater frequency of all study pathogens among newborns from Group A. Conclusion: The maternal clinical periodontal status was a satisfactory indicator of the bacterial colonization pattern observed in their newborn children. Thus, longitudinal studies should be performed to confirm this relationship.

Shared detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis in cohabiting family members: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…P. gingivalis detection rates was estimated at 68.8% in children. A study evaluating the influence of mother's periodontal clinical status on the prevalence of periodontal pathogens in newborns (aged of 3 months) showed that P. gingivalis was the most prevalent pathogen followed by others periodontal bacteria (Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forshythia, Campylobacter rectus, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans) [37]. They concluded that the maternal clinical periodontal status is a significant indicator of the oral microbiota composition in the newborn children.…”