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PCR detection of Streptococcus mutans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in dental plaque samples from Haitian adolescents

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Abstract

Streptococcus mutans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans are oral pathogens associated with dental caries and periodontitis, respectively. The aim of this study was to determine the colonization of these two microorganisms in the dental plaque of a group of Haitian adolescents using two different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, standard PCR, and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays. Fifty-four pooled supra-gingival plaque samples and 98 pooled sub-gingival plaque samples were obtained from 104 12- to19-year-old rural-dwelling Haitians. The total genomic DNA of bacteria was isolated from these samples, and all participants also received caries and periodontal examinations. Caries prevalence was 42.2%, and the mean decayed, missing, and filled surface (DMFS) was 2.67 ± 5.3. More than half of the adolescents (53.3%) experienced periodontal pockets (Community Periodontal Index score ≥3). S. mutans was detected in 67.3% by qPCR and 38.8% by PCR of the supra-gingival plaque samples (p < 0.01), and 36.6% by qPCR and 8.1% by PCR of the sub-gingival samples (p < 0.01). A. actinomycetemcomitans was detected in 85.1% by qPCR and 44.0% by PCR of the sub-gingival samples (p < 0.01), but the prevalence was similar, 67.3% by qPCR and 59.2% by PCR, in the supra-gingival plaque samples. Neither age nor gender was significantly correlated to the bacterial colonization. The results demonstrated a moderate-to-high prevalence of S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans in the Haitian adolescent population, and qPCR is more sensitive than standard PCR in field conditions. These findings suggest that qPCR should be considered for field oral epidemiologic studies and may be necessary in investigations having major logistic challenges.

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Acknowledgment

Supported by NIH/NIDCR grants R03 DE15706, R01 DE014708, T32 DE007255, and Dean's Faculty Research Fund of New York University College of Dentistry.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to the present materials.

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Author notes

  1. Germain Jean-Charles

    Present address: Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 E. 24th Street, New York, NY, 10010-4086, USA

    Walter J. Psoter, Stefanie L. Russell, Ralph V. Katz & Germain Jean-Charles

  2. Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA

    Yao Ge, Zhou Chen & Yihong Li

Authors
  1. Walter J. Psoter
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  2. Yao Ge
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Correspondence to Yihong Li.

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Psoter, W.J., Ge, Y., Russell, S.L. et al. PCR detection of Streptococcus mutans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in dental plaque samples from Haitian adolescents. Clin Oral Invest 15, 461–469 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-010-0413-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-010-0413-y

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