Herpes Simplex Virus 1, Cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr Virus Detection in Patients with Chronic and Aggressive Periodontitis

Abstract

Recent investigations suggest that the viruses of the family Herpesviridae are associated with periodontal disease, demonstrating a possible association with the presence of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) in periodontal tissues. Aim: To analyze the association between the presence of HSV-1, HCMV and EBV in patients with chronic or aggressive periodontitis. Methods: Crevicular fluid samples were collected from 11 patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP), 11 with chronic periodontitis (CP) and 11 healthy control subjects (CG). The following clinical parameters were measured: plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depths (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL). Viral detection was performed by PCR for HSV-1, HCMV and EBV. Results: HCMV was detected in 27.3% of AgP patients but not detected in CP and healthy subjects; HSV-1 in 27.3% of AgP and CP group and in 9.1% of CG. EBV-1 was detected in 18.2% of CP patients and 9.1% of the CG. HCMV and HSV-1 coinfection was detected in 18.8% of AgP patients and 9.09% of viral coinfection between HSV-1 and VEB, within the CP group. The AgP group exhibited the higher values for all clinical parameters evaluated, respect to the CP and control group. Conclusion: The presence of HCMV may be related to periodontal disease, specifically in cases of AgP, and it may play a synergistic role with other infectious agents from the oral cavity associated with the development of periodontitis.