Anaerobic culture to detect periodontal and caries pathogens

Abstract

Background Anaerobic culture has been critical in our understanding of the oral microbiotas. Highlight Studies in advanced periodontitis in the 1970’s revealed microbial complexes that associated with different clinical presentations. Taxonomy studies identified species newly-observed in periodontitis as Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans, Campylobacter (Wolinella) rectus and other Campylobacter species, and Tannerella (Bacteroides) forsythia. Anaerobic culture of initial periodontitis showed overlap in the microbiota with gingivitis, and added Selenomonas noxia and Filifactor alocis as putative periodontal pathogens. Porphyromonas gingivalis and T. forsythia were found to be associated with initial periodontitis in adults. The dominant microbiota of dental caries differs from that of periodontitis. The major cariogenic species are acidogenic and acid tolerant species particularly Streptococcus mutans, and Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species. Anaerobic culture of severe early childhood caries revealed a widely diverse microbiota, comparable to that observed using cloning and sequencing. The PCR-based cloning approach, however, underestimated Actinobacteria compared with culture. Only a subset of the caries-associated microbiota was acid tolerant, with different segments of the microbiota cultured on blood agar compared to a low pH acid agar. While the major caries-associated species was S. mutans, a new species, Scardovia wiggsiae, was significantly associated with early childhood caries. Higher counts of S. wiggsiae were also observed in initial white spot carious lesions in adolescents. Conclusion In periodontitis and dental caries, anaerobic culture studies of advanced disease provided a comprehensive analysis of the microbiota of these infections. Anaerobic culture highlighted the limitation of PCR with standard primers that underestimate detection of Actinobacteria.

Microbiomes of Site-Specific Dental Plaques from Children with Different Caries Status

“…Thus, low diversity is not always a signature of disease. In addition, S. mutans and other acidogenic/aciduric species such as Scardovia wiggsiae, Parascardovia denticolens, and Lactobacillus salivarius, which were previously associated with caries (10,(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42), occurred almost exclusively in CA-PD, suggesting that these species might be more important in the advanced stages of childhood caries. V. parvula and V. dispar showed consistent increases in frequency from healthy to diseased states, as previously observed (20).…”

Scardovia wiggsiae and its potential role as a caries pathogen

“…Acid-tolerant caries-associated species have been isolated in broth [30, 31] and on agar [26, 32, 33]. In a population of young children that included caries-free and severe-ECC (S-ECC) children, the major species cultured on a medium of pH 7 included Streptococcus sanguinis, Gemella morbillorum and Selenomonas species, whereas at a low pH medium of pH 5 the major species detected differed and included S. mutans , Streptococcus salivarius, Lactobacillus gasseri and Veillonella species [26, 33].…”

The Effect of Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis: A Review of Literature

“…1 Of the most important pathogens causing periodontal disease, complex microorganisms such as Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia bacteria can be noted. 2 Due to the fact that the main goal of periodontal treatments is to reduce microbial agents, common treatments such as the mechanical debridement (the use of ultrasonic equipment and manually) as well as the use of topical or systemic antibiotics are considered as the main therapeutic measures in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. 3 Although the use of antibiotics can reduce the periodontal pathogens, their frequent use can cause bacterial resistance.…”