Comparison of Oral Microbe Quantities from Tongue Samples and Subgingival Pockets.

André Göhler,Birte Holtfreter,Stefanie Samietz,Carsten Oliver Schmidt,Ivo Steinmetz,Thomas Kocher

doi:10.1155/2018/2048390

Abstract

Objectives To improve understanding of periodontitis pathology, we need more profound knowledge of relative abundances of single prokaryotic species and colonization dynamics between habitats. Thus, we quantified oral microbes from two oral habitats to gain insights into colonization variability and correlation to the clinical periodontal status. Methods We analyzed tongue scrapings and subgingival pocket samples from 237 subjects (35–54 years) with at least 10 teeth and no recent periodontal treatment from the 11-year follow-up of the Study of Health in Pomerania. Relative abundances of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus sanguinis, total bacteria, and Archaea were correlated to clinically assessed pocket depths (PD) and clinical attachment levels (CAL). Results Increased relative abundances of P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and F. nucleatum were linked to increased levels of PD and CAL (i) on the subject level (mean PD, mean CAL) and (ii) in subgingival pockets. Relative abundances of Archaea from tongue samples correlated negatively with mean PD or mean CAL. Detection and quantity of bacterial species correlated weakly to moderately between the tongue and subgingival pocket, except for Archaea. Conclusions Relative abundances of specific oral species correlated weakly to moderately between habitats. Single species, total bacteria, and Archaea were linked to clinically assessed severity of periodontitis in a habitat-dependent manner.

Highlights

Various microorganisms colonize oral habitats [1,2,3,4]
Mean pocket depths (PD) and mean clinical attachment levels (CAL) were 2.41 and 1.92 mm, respectively. e subgingival pocket sample originated from the second molar in 84.0%
Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or numbers; PD, probing depth; CAL, clinical attachment level

Summary

Introduction

Each habitat appears to be preferentially populated by different and somewhat unique sets of microbes, whereas in periodontal disease the microbial profile in the subgingival pocket seems to narrow [5]. Periodontitis-associated microorganisms colonize subgingival pockets and other habitats like the tongue dorsum. It harbors species such as Fusobacterium and Porphyromonas [6, 7] and further acts as a reservoir for recolonization of periodontal pockets after periodontal therapy [8, 9]. We used qPCR for quantification of a single species [7], serving as representatives for different stages of oral biofilm formation [9, 14, 15]

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Discussion

Conclusion