Streptococcus mutans detection in saliva and colostrum samples

Camilla Beatriz Da Silva,Virginia Paes Leme Ferriani,Denise Bertulucci Rocha Rodrigues,Bárbara Rocha Rodrigues,Ruchele Dias Nogueira,Marcelly Milhomem Mendes,Virmondes Rodrigues,Vinicius Rangel Geraldo-Martins,Thiago Lima Pereira

doi:10.31744/einstein_journal/2019ao4515

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective To detect Streptococcus mutans in colostrum and saliva of neonates and compare with its detection in saliva of mothers.Methods Forty-three healthy women, full-term gestations with no complications, submitted to elective Cesarean section, and their newborns were included in the study. Samples were investigated by polymerase chain reaction to detect S. mutans in genetic material from the samples.Results Approximately 16% of colostrum samples showed S. mutans , but not correlated with the presence of the bacteria in both samples of saliva. S. mutans was detected in 49 and 30% of saliva samples of mothers and neonates, respectively. There was a positive correlation in S. mutans detection between types of saliva. The number of maternal samples of saliva with detectable S. mutans was smaller in women receiving dental treatment during pregnancy. Tooth brushing, three times a day, influenced the detection of S. mutans in both the saliva and the colostrum.Conclusion Although maternal saliva may present S. mutans , few samples of colostrum present the bacteria. The presence of bacteria in neonate saliva may be related to contact before birth. Dental treatment and hygiene habits seem to influence the detection of S. mutans in samples of maternal saliva and colostrum.

Highlights

The genus Streptococci represents the majority of bacteria colonizing the oral cavity in the first months of life.[1]
There are some hypotheses about the presence of bacteria in the mammary glands, such as contact with the external environment, entry through other human body pathways, and a possible association of both hypotheses.[23]. External contamination can occur through contact of neonatal oral microbiota and skin microbiota during breastfeeding.[24]. This fact could explain the predominance of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus in breast milk, which are typical commensal of oral and skin microbiota.[25,26] colostrum collection was performed before the first contact of the mother with the newborn, and after asepsis of breasts
The results shows that the microorganism is present in some maternal saliva, it does not always enter the bloodstream, reaches the mammary glands, and is secreted in colostrum

Summary

Introduction

The genus Streptococci represents the majority of bacteria colonizing the oral cavity in the first months of life.[1] The initial colonization of Streptococcus mutans occurs mainly after tooth eruption and is associated to the development of caries. Streptococci mutans colonize the dental surface, accumulate in the biofilm and produce acids that promote demineralization the tooth enamel.[2] Dental caries is an infectious disease and a public health problem, especially in Brazil, because children are early colonized by S. mutans, even before tooth eruption.[3] The early colonization can be associated with high consumption of sucrose, contact with highly infected individuals,(4-6) and immaturity of mucosal immune system in children.[7,8]. It is known that colostrum has great bacterial diversity[9] including Streptococci, Staphylococci, lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria,(10) which can determine the body colonization of breastfed children. There is evidence that dental caries is the negative outcome associated with breastfeeding, due to increased tooth decay in longer periods of breastfeeding.[15,16] On the other hand, shorter duration of breastfeeding is suggested to be associated with increased risk for early childhood caries.[17]

Methods

Results

Conclusion