Epidemiological Survey of Streptococcus mutans among Japanese Children

Abstract

An epidemiological investigation was carried out to identify and determine the serotypes of Streptococcus mutans from carious lesions of young Japanese children. For this purpose, a direct fluorescent antibody technique was mainly used. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated antibodies were prepared for the five known serotypes of S. mutans. Cross reactions and nonspecific reactions were eliminated by adsorption, counterstaining, or DEAE-cellulose column chromatography.Agar-gel immunodiffusion was used to distinguish between serotypes a and d. The epidemiological survey suggested that serotype c strains were most prevalent in dental plaques of Japanese children. The d and e serotypes were rare and serotypes a and b were not detected. It was also noted that more than one serotype of S. mutans could be found in the same locus of a carious lesion and that there might be no relationship between the degree of caries and the causative serotype(s) of S. mutans.Elegant studies with gnotobiotic rats have demonstrated that specific bacteria are necessary for the induction of experimental dental caries [13,18,36]. Most streptococci with a caries-inducing potential have been found to resemble Streptococcus mutans which Clarke [5] originally reported [4,11,20]. Dental caries can also be induced by Actinomyces viscosus and some species of lactobacilli and streptococci other than S. mutans, but these bacteria produced caries, especially on smooth surfaces, less regularly and less severely than S. mutans. The disease has been recognized to be infectious and transmissible although it is multifactorial in nature [29].S. mutans was found indigenously in the human mouth in distinctly separated areas of the world [3] and was detected more frequently in the plaque of carious lesions than in that of healthy teeth [8,12,32,41]. Most strains of S. mutans are antigenically different from any of the known Lancefield groups of streptococci [20]. Bratthall [1,2] reported that strains of S. mutans could be separated into five serotypes based on specific antigens detected by serological analysis. His serological types closely paralleled the genetic types reported by Coykendall [6] on the basis of DNA-DNA hybridization studies. Furthermore, the differences among strains of S. mutans in the electrofocusing patterns of cell membrane proteins were correlated with those found by serological and genetic studies [23]. A recent study by Perch et al [38] established the presence of two new serotypes of S. mutans in addition to the five serotypes reported by Bratthall [1].

Serotype specific polymerase chain reaction identifies a higher prevalence of streptococcus mutans serotype k and e in a random group of children with dental caries from the Southern region of India

“…Most of the studies, however, have reported the occurrence of serotype e with highest prevalence that ranged from 2% to 30% followed by serotypes: f and k in the range of 1-25% and around 5% respectively [Table 2]. [171819202122232425262728] Since the findings of our study are in contrary to those that have been observed earlier, we speculate that this could be due to a shift in S. mutans serotype in subjects from this region. Such serotype shifts have been reported elsewhere in other strains such as Streptoccocus agalactiae from Group B Streptococcus for example, where in S. agalactiae serotype Ia was found to occur consistently with a higher prevalence in North American population relative to those from other geographic regions ( P < 0.005).…”

Microflora associated with experimental root surface caries in humans

“…All the root caries plaque and dentin samples contained mutans streptococci, irrespective of the caries activity. The distribution of serotypes was reflected in saliva and confirmed that S. mutans (serotypes c, e, and f) may be isolated more frequently from active caries lesions than S. sobrinus (serotypes d and g) (19,33,42). Two individuals were colonized by at least three different serotypes on the same root surface.…”

Streptococcus mutans establishment and dental caries experience in children from 2 to 4 years old

“…These studies confirmed the relationship between the prevalence of S. mutans in the plaque and the development of caries. The isolated S. mutans strains all belonged to serotype c/e/f, whieh was found to be the most common serotype group in many studies (5,10,19,20).…”