Transmission Of Streptococcus Mutans Research Articles

Human Leucocyte Antigen Profile and Transmission of Mutans Streptococci in Mother-Child Pairs.

To investigate possible association between the transmission of mutans streptococci and sharing the immune system component Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) class II in mother-child pairs. Plaque samples from 43 mother-child pairs were cultivated and screened for mutans streptococci. In 14 pairs where both mother and child harboured the bacteria, the strains were genotyped by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA and samples were run on PAGE gels. Analysis of genetic identity between mother and child strains was performed with help of software and Dice similarity index. The distribution of HLA of serogroup DR4 (HLA DR4) was studied in relation to maternal transmission and mutans streptococci colonisation in children. The study hypothesis was that in pairs where both mother and child were HLA DR4 positive, transmission of mutans streptococci was more likely. No correlation between the presence of HLA DR4 in mother and child and maternal transmission of mutans streptococci was established. However, the results showed no linkage between mutans streptococci colonisation and HLA DR 4. Of 15 children with mutans streptococci, 12 were HLA DR4 positive. The result suggests that presence of HLA DR4 could be a predisposing factor for colonisation with mutans streptococci in children.

Genotypic characterization of Streptococcus mutans in child-mother pair—A PCR based study

ObjectivesAt present, there is lack of evidence in literature regarding the transmission of Streptococcus Mutans from a caries-free mother to child by genetic methods, so the present study aimed to identify the genetic characterization of Streptococcus Mutans strains isolated from caries-free and caries active children and their mother being caries-free in both the groups and also to identify the genetic patterns of Streptococcus Mutans between caries-free and caries-active individuals. MethodsTwenty child-mother pair were selected and divided into 2 groups and the mothers being caries-free in both the groups. Saliva samples were collected using a sterile tube, followed by microbial culture of Streptococcus mutans, DNA isolation and PCR amplification. The molecular weights of each band were converted into a binary data and data were entered into SPSS software version 20.0 to generate similarity dendrograms. ResultsAmplified products of Streptococcus Mutans demonstrated a same genetic distance between the mother-child pair, indicative of a closely related species. Dendrogram interpretation represented a greater genetic polymorphism of Streptococcus Mutans between caries-free and caries-active children. ConclusionsIdentical genetic distance between child-mother pair showed that, these Streptooccus Mutans were closely related and could have vertically transmitted from their mothers. Different genotypic pattern between caries-free and caries active subjects showed a genetic polymorphism among the Streptococcus Mutans strains.

Mother-to-child transmission of Streptococcus mutans.

PubMed, the Cochrane Library databases and the Virtual Health Library were searched from January 1950, with a manual search of the reference lists of the included studies. Duplicate papers, case reports, case series, descriptive studies, review articles, opinion articles and letters were excluded along with studies on children with oral defects, and ongoing preventative/restorative treatment and mothers who used antimicrobial substances. Two authors independently screened the title and abstract of all identified records, with consensus if required by a third author. A PECO (E= exposure) strategy was used to assess the eligibility of identified papers: observational human studies whose subjects were mother and child pairs; P contaminated by S.mutans; E comparison according to the presence and absence of S.mutans; C and whether there is vertical transmission (as defined by molecular analyses); O. Included studies were assessed for risk of bias. Two researchers extracted data on the methods, participants and outcomes, and the authors were contacted when it was necessary to clarify details. The percentage of transmission before and after the year 2000 was evaluated using the t-test and the molecular analysis technique was evaluated using ANOVA. A cumulative meta-analysis based on the publication year was performed, combining studies that assessed mother/child bionomy (pairs) and presented the percentage of transmission. Thirty-six cross-sectional studies were included, with the age of the children varying among the studies from three weeks to 15 years. All but one of the studies confirmed the vertical transmission of S. mutans from mother to child by genetic methods. The pooled cumulative meta-analysis demonstrated vertical transmission of S. mutans from mother to child (p<0.01) and showed a tendency of reduction in the percentage of vertical transmission compared with the year the studies were published.There was no significant difference in the transmission rate according to the type of technique used (p=0.39; ANOVA test). Quality assessment found that twenty-eight studies had bias such as confounding factors. All of the studies included were cross-sectional studies and therefore none was randomised. There were no reports of blinding in the selected studies although some studies evaluated the testing accuracy and repeatability or calibration; all included microbiological repetition. There is scientific evidence of vertical transmission of S. mutans from mother to child as there was an association between S. mutans strains in mothers and their respective children.

Streptococcus mutans is Vertically Transmitted From Mother to Child

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Mother-to-child transmission of Streptococcus mutans: a systematic review and meta-analysis. da Silva Bastos VA, Freitas-Fernandes LB, da Silva Fidalgo TK, Martins C, de Mattos CT, de Souza IPR, Maia LC. J Dent 2015;43(2):181–91 Reviewer Jaana Gold, DDS, PhD Purpose/Question The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the evidence for the vertical transmission of S. mutans from mothers to their children. Source of Funding Brazilian government agencies: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) and Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ). Type of Study/Design Systematic review with meta-analysis of data Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Grade C: Disease-oriented evidence

Effect of maternal use of chewing gums containing xylitol on transmission of mutans streptococci in children: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Mutans streptococci (MS) are the major causative bacteria involved in human dental decay. Habitual consumption of xylitol has been proved to reduce MS levels in saliva and plaque. To evaluate the effect of the maternal use of xylitol gum on MS reduction in infants. A structured literature review and meta-analysis. A random effects model was used to assess the relative risks of the incidence of MS in the saliva or plaque of children who were 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months old. We reviewed 11 RCTs derived from 5 research teams that included 601 mothers. Our results indicated that the incidence of MS in the saliva or plaque of the infants was significantly reduced in the xylitol group (risk ratio: 0.54; 95% confidence interval: 0.39-0.73, at 12-18 months) and (risk ratio: 0.56; 95% confidence interval: 0.40-0.79, at 36 months) compared with the control groups. The long-term effect of maternal xylitol gum exposure on their children's dental caries was controversial. Habitual xylitol consumption by mothers with high MS levels was associated with a significant reduction in the mother-child transmission of salivary MS.

Mother-To-Child Transmission of Mutans Streptococci

Mutans streptococci (MS) are the major group of pathogens implicated in dental caries. Like other infectious diseases, transmission of the causative microorganisms is the initial and essential step that should be understood relative to disease control and prevention. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding MS transmission, especially from mothers to their children. Included are methods used to study transmission, sources of MS, initial acquisition, factors concerning transmission and prevention of transmission. Information accumulated over many decades showed the involvement of MS transmission in the pathogenesis of caries, hence several preventive measurements have been proposed. Nevertheless, some essential aspects remain to be elucidated for more benefits of practical application.

County-level characteristics as predictors of dentists’ ECC counseling in the USA: a survey study

BackgroundTransmission of Streptococcus mutans from mother-to-child can lead to Early Childhood Caries. A previous study identified characteristics and beliefs of general dentists about counseling pregnant women to reduce risk of infection and Early Childhood Caries. This study extends those findings with an analysis of county level factors.MethodsIn 2006, we surveyed 732 general dentists in Oregon, USA about dental care for pregnant women. Survey items asked about individual and practice characteristics. In the present study we matched those data to county level factors and used multinomial logistic regression to test the effects of the factors (i.e., dentist to population ratio, percentage of female dentists, percentage of females of childbearing age, and percentage of individuals living in poverty) on counseling behavior.ResultsCounty level factors were unrelated to counseling behavior when the models controlled for dentists' individual attitudes, beliefs, and practice level characteristics. The adjusted odds ratios for no counseling of pregnant patients (versus 100 percent counseling) were 1.1 (95% CI .8-1.7), 1.0 (1.0-1.1), 1.2 (.9-1.5), and 1.1 (1.0-1.2) for dentist/population ratio, percent female dentists, percent females of childbearing age, and percent in poverty, respectively Similar results were obtained when dentists who counseled some patients were compared to those counseling 100 percent of patients.ConclusionsCommunity level factors do not appear to impact the individual counseling behavior of general dentists in Oregon, USA regarding the risk of maternal transmission of Early Childhood Caries.

Ten-year results of a Screening Program during pregnancy for children’s dental caries prophylaxis

Introduction: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease with many contributing factors in the genesis of risk (11). Streptococcus mutans (SM) is a gram positive, facultative anaerobe commonly found in the human oral cavity. Described for the first time in 1924 by Clarke, is the main germ responsible for the caries disease (5, 9). In fact, SM produces an insoluble extracellular polysaccharide sucrose which plays an important role as a mediator of the adhesiveness, both as a cementing molecule for other microorganisms, and to create a protected site where the microorganism can proliferate (6, 9, 10). Its presence in the plaque is not equal for all people and is closely related to sugar consumption (9). Its transmission can take place early in the life of the child through the mother’s saliva (2, 3, 4, 8).The early acquisition of this organism is associated with Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and then creates a primary colonization which is hardly removed (1, 7). Paying special attention to the health of women and children, this work aimed to decrease the incidence of childhood tooth decay, streamlining preventive efforts in a population at risk. Methods: Since 1999, all women referred to our clinic in the second trimester of pregnancy or during childbirth were offered the opportunity to perform a simple test to measure the presence of SM in saliva and have been given some advice (diet, hygiene, fuoro-prophylaxis, dental visit). The sampling of saliva was performed after chewing one paraffin tablet for about 1 minute. For the microbiological examination the technique of dip-slide test (CTR bacteria, Ivoclar Vivadent) was used; results were classified according to semi-quantitative classes of microorganism concentration.Women were classified positive when bacterial concentration was 100000 CFU/ml. Besides a general advice on hygiene and diet, these women were invited to undergo a prophylactic treatment with chlorhexidine, a disinfectant with bactericidal properties against SM. Results: 84% of surveyed women adhered to the screening (29% pregnant women, 55% in the puerperium). In the 12-year study, 2170/7213 (30%) women had a positive saliva test and were administered chlorhexidine. Conclusions: By means of a prenatal screening involving different professionals (microbiologist, obstetriciangynecologist, pediatrician, oral-hygienist) we could assess the likelihood of vertical transmission of SM from mother to child, and give the mothers medical advice on the risk of tooth decay in children. Preliminary data on the incidence of caries in children of those women who tested positive at the screening, confirm that our program has an important role in preventing childhood tooth decay.

Issues of Recruitment and Rationale for Conducting Clinical Trials on Mutans Streptococci Suppression in Mothers

The aims of this study are (1) to describe issues related to recruitment of mothers participating in a clinical trial of transmission of mutans streptococci (MS) from mother to child in Bauru, Brazil and (2) to perform cross-cultural and temporal comparisons of levels of infection of the MS in mothers of Bauru. A total of 1422 mothers were visited at their domiciles. Cutoff levels for the MS were established at ≥105 CFU/mL saliva. The main reason for a mother not enrolling was not being highly infected by the MS, yet 76% of mothers presented with levels ≥105 CFU/mL saliva. Recent studies in industrialized countries showed a negative coefficient for linear tests indicating significant decline overtime in the levels of MS in mothers. Intercountry comparisons for mothers' salivary levels of the MS with the Bauru study as the reference revealed significant differences with studies conducted in the last two decades.

Prospective study of potential sources of Streptococcus mutans transmission in nursery school children

Transmission of Streptococcus mutans, a major dental caries pathogen, occurs mainly during the first 2.5 years of age. Children appear to acquire S. mutans mostly from their mothers, but few studies have investigated non-familial sources of S. mutans transmission. This study prospectively analysed initial S. mutans oral colonization in 119 children from nursery schools during a 1.5-year period and tracked the transmission from child to child, day-care caregiver to child and mother to child. Children were examined at baseline, when they were 5-13 months of age, and at 6-month intervals for determination of oral levels of S. mutans and development of caries lesions. Levels of S. mutans were also determined in caregivers and mothers. A total of 1392 S. mutans isolates (obtained from children, caregivers and mothers) were genotyped by arbitrarily primed PCR and chromosomal RFLP. Overall, 40.3 % of children were detectably colonized during the study, and levels of S. mutans were significantly associated with the development of caries lesions. Identical S. mutans genotypes were found in four nursery cohorts. No familial relationship existed in three of these cohorts, indicating horizontal transmission. Despite high oral levels of S. mutans identified in most of the caregivers, none of their genotypes matched those identified in the respective children. Only 50 % of children with high levels of S. mutans carried genotypes identified in their mothers. The results support previous evidence indicating that non-familial sources of S. mutans transmission exist, and indicate that this bacterium may be transmitted horizontally between children during the initial phases of S. mutans colonization in nursery environments.

Initial acquisition and transmission of Streptococcus mutans from Japanese mothers to children

The purpose of this study was to determine the time-window of infection for Streptococcus mutans between mother and child in Japan and which factors affected colonization by this microorganism. After obtaining informed consent, saliva was collected from the mothers and their children. These samples were serially diluted and inoculated onto Mitis-Salivarius agar and Mitis-Salivarius bacitracin plates, and then cultured under anaerobic conditions at 37°C for 5 days. Isolated mutans streptococci were identified by conventional biochemical characteristics and species-specific polymerase chain reaction based on the dextranase gene. No mutans streptococci groups were isolated from 0–5-month-old children with no erupted teeth. No statistically significant difference was found in detection rates in S. mutans among mother's milk, bottled milk or mixture. Cross-sectional study revealed that detection rates of S. mutans in the saliva samples increased with number of erupted teeth. Pulse-field gel-electrophoresis patterns obtained from isolated S. mutans using SmaI from the mothers and their children indicated that colonization by S. mutans in some Japanese children resulted from vertical transmission. In strains in which vertical transmission was observed, the mutacin IV and Smb A and B genes were detected from 8 out of 12 isolates. These results suggest that the window of infection for S. mutans is at around 6–23 months, and that colonization by this microorganism is mainly affected by number of erupted teeth.

Acquisition and Transmission of Mutans Streptococci

Dental caries is an infectious and transmissible disease. The mutans streptococci and some Lactobacillus species are the two groups of infectious agents most strongly associated with dental caries. Earlier studies demonstrated that infants acquire mutans streptococci from their mothers and only after the eruption of primary teeth. More recent studies indicate that mutans streptococci can colonize the mouths of predentate infants and that horizontal, as well as vertical, transmission does occur. These findings will likely facilitate the development of clinical strategies to prevent or delay infant infection by these organisms, thereby reducing the prevalence of dental caries.

Transmission of Mutans Streptococci in Adults within a Chinese Population

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was transmission between adults in Chinese families using chromosomal DNA fingerprinting. Plaque samples were obtained from buccal and occlusal surfaces of 11 married couples. The colonization levels of mutans streptococci were estimated as colony-forming units per milliliter, and caries experience was scored by decayed, missing and filled teeth. Information about medical history, diet regimes and age at marriage was obtained. The isolates were serotyped by biochemical test and genotyped using the restriction endonuclease HaeIII. The procedure was repeated after 3 months. The results showed that 1 couple had the same genotype of mutans streptococcus at the first examination, but this could not be repeated for the husband who had lost his mutans streptococci at the second examination. On the contrary, another couple that did not have the same mutans streptococcal genotype at the beginning had the same genotype after 3 months. No matching of genotypes was observed within 8 couples. In 1 male, no mutans streptococci were detected, therefore that couple was not considered. These data indicate that spouses had a chance to be infected by strains of mutans streptococci from another person. The results suggest that there may be transmission between adults in Chinese families, but it may be difficult for mutans streptococci to colonize another mouth permanently.

POLA PROTEIN ELEKTROFORESIS DARI STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS DALAM SATU KELUARGA

Mutans streptococci is a normal flora of the mouth. Streptococcus mutans is considered to be the main etiological agent of dental caries in human. Many research have been reported about Mutans Streptococci transmission in the family. The infant first became colonized by this organism probably from family cohorts. This research was done to know protein patterns of Streptococcus mutans in an acquired by transmission in the family. Plaque of ten family were taken to isolate Streptococcus mutans isolation and then were extracted as whole cell protein by Artama method (1996). Protein analysis by SDS PAGE to establish the relationship or transmission of Streptococcus mutans in family. The result indicated that protein patterns of Streptococcus mutans found in children identically to those of their parents. Strongly supporting the notion that parents transmit their organism to their ifants.

Plasmid-containing strains of Streptococcus mutans cluster within family and racial cohorts: implications for natural transmission.

The transmission of mutans streptococci is thought to occur along familial lines based on investigations which have shown common strains within family units by using phenotypic typing methods, such as bacteriocin production and immunity profiles and serotyping. Difficulties in implementing these typing methods, coupled with conflicting interpretations of results between laboratories, led us to study the conservation of Streptococcus mutans strains within a mother-child cohort by using a genotypic marker, plasmid DNA. Plasmids (all 5.6 kilobases in size) were observed at an overall frequency of 3.3%, with a significantly different frequency in whites (1.5%) compared with blacks (6.6%). Plasmid-containing strains were significantly clustered in mother-child pairs compared with nonrelated individuals (58 versus 3.3%; P less than 0.001). Moreover, the different plasmid groups (I and II) were highly conserved within racial boundaries (P = 0.007). In those instances in which we were able to characterize distinct strains by either biotype or plasmid profile, we found that mothers harbored a more heterogeneous population of mutans streptococci than did their children. This suggested, among other possibilities, that children acquire additional strains as they approach adulthood. Alternatively, we may have been unable to detect more heterogeneity of strains in children because of quantitative differences of strains in saliva. We present collective data which show that strains of S. mutans are highly conserved within not only mothers and their children but also racial groups, suggesting vertical transmission of this organism within human populations. Moreover, we show that levels of S. mutans found in the saliva of the mother correlated with levels found in her child, demonstrating a quantitative relationship within mother-child pairs.

The acquisition of Streptococcus mutans by infant monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) and its relationship to the initiation of dental caries.

The acquisition and transmission of Streptococcus mutans by 16 consecutively born infant monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) was studied. The 16 infant monkeys were weaned in four groups and caged together to form a commune. Transmission from mother to infant occurred infrequently. Streptococcus mutans was isolated from nine of the mothers but only from the dental plaque of two infant monkeys at weaning at which time the predominant streptococci were S. sanguis and S. mitior. One further animal was colonized by S. mutants during the formation of the commune, but only after it was caged with an infant harbouring the same organism. For 46 d after the completion of the commune, the monkeys were fed a starch-based diet during which time S. mutans of serotypes c, e or h were isolated from the faeces of all 16 animals and from the dental plaque taken from the developmental groove of the first deciduous molar of 11 animals. Faecal transmission appeared to be an important factor in the spread of S. mutans between monkeys in the commune. The monkeys were then fed a caries-promoting high sucrose diet resulting in a rapid increase in the proportion of S. mutans in the plaque and in the faeces. Streptococcus mutans serotype e was more frequently isolated from both plaque and faeces and its predominance may in part be due to the production of a bacteriocin active in vitro against S. mutans serotype h and other species of oral streptococci isolated from monkey dental plaque. The proportion of S. mutans in the developmental groove 8 d after the introduction of the high sucrose diet was significantly related to both the caries status of the groove and the total caries score 6 months later. The results suggest that, in this model of human dental caries, S. mutans is the major bacterial factor in the initiation of tooth decay.

Observations on the implantation and transmission of Streptococcus mutans in humans.

One parent from each of 26 families was reinfected with a strain of Streptococcus mutans that was isolated from his mouth and made resistant to streptomycin. The person-to-person spread of S mutans in their families was studied. No uniform spread of the organisms occurred.