Distribution of Streptococcus troglodytae and Streptococcus dentirousetti in chimpanzee oral cavities

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution and phenotypic properties of the indigenous streptococci in chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) oral cavities. Eleven chimpanzees (aged from 9 to 44 years, mean AE SD, 26.9 AE 12.6 years) in the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University were enrolled in this research and brushing bacterial samples collected from them. Streptococci were isolated from the oral cavities of all chimpanzees. The isolates (n ¼ 46) were identified as thirteen species by 16S rRNA genes analysis. The predominant species was Streptococcus sanguinis of mitis streptococci from five chimpanzees (45%). Mutans streptococci were isolated from six chimpanzees (55%). The predominant species in the mutans streptococci were Streptococcus troglodytae from four chimpanzees (36%), this species having been proposed as a novel species by us, and Streptococcus dentirousetti from three chimpanzees (27%). Streptococcus mutans was isolated from one chimpanzee (9%). However, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus macacae and Streptococcus downei, which are indigenous to human and monkey (Macaca fasciclaris) oral habitats, were not isolated. Of the mutans streptococci, S. troglodytae, S. dentirousetti, and S. mutans possessed strong adherence activity to glass surface.

Highly Variable Streptococcus oralis Strains Are Common among Viridans Streptococci Isolated from Primates

“…However, members of the Mitis group of streptococci were obtained only from monkeys and great apes, with S. oralis being the predominant species. None of our samples showed 16S rRNA identity to other species of the Mutans group, including Streptococcus troglodytes , Streptococcus dentirousetti , Streptococcus downei , and Streptococcus macacae , which have been isolated from plaques of chimpanzees obtained by brushing their teeth ( 84 ), probably due to the different methods used for sampling. The streptococci included novel species isolated from wild chimpanzees that we could not define by MLSA or 16S rRNA analysis, and other genes did not reveal matches with >90% homology ( Table S3 ).…”

Small regulatory RNAs are mediators of theStreptococcus mutansSloR regulon

“…The results of pangenome analysis support SloR as a well-conserved protein across Streptococcus sp. In contrast, SmsR1532 appears to have emerged only within the distinct clade containing S. mutans and S. troglodytae, the latter being a predominant, strongly-adherent, bacitracin-resistant member of the mutans streptococci in the oral cavities of chimpanzees (50).…”

Streptococcus panodentis sp. nov. from the oral cavities of chimpanzees

“…After obtaining the approval of the Institutional Animal Welfare and Care Committee, oral specimens were collected under general anesthesia. All chimpanzee subjects were in good oral health . The bacterial samples were collected by a previously described tooth brush method .…”

“…We previously reported isolation of a novel species, S. troglodytae , from the oral cavities of chimpanzees ; an analysis of its glucosyltransferase genes provided useful information for research regarding the evolution of human dental caries . We also collected a number of oral isolates that are similar to S. perosis/infantis based on 16S rRNA gene analysis . In the present study, we report the taxonomical positions of novel isolates from dental plaque in the oral cavities of chimpanzees.…”