IADR Abstract Archives
Associations Of Streptococcus mutans And Scardovia wiggsiae With Childhood Caries
Objectives: To examine the association between bacterial load and caries experience in children from Queensland, Australia, attending community dental clinics.
Methods: A cohort of 100 6-year-old children with caries, enrolled into an on-going multi-centre trial, provided salivary samples. Bacterial DNA was extracted and the prevalence and bacterial load of 14 species determined using a custom-made quantitative polymerase chain reaction array. Caries experience was assessed by the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth using WHO criteria.
Results: The prevalence of Actinomyces odontolyticus, Actinomyces viscosus, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Neisseria flava, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus salivarius/thermophiles and Veillonella dispar was high (>75% of samples). Less prevalent bacteria included Scardovia wiggsiae (64%), Lactobacillus casei/paracasei/zeae (24%), Bifidobacterium dentium (12%) and Streptococcus sobrinus (9%). Lactobacillus acidophilus was not detected in any samples. With regard to S. mutans and S. wiggsiae, 48% were positive for both species concurrently, 28% for S. mutans alone, 15% for S. wiggsiae alone, and 9% were negative for both. The mean caries experience of children positive for S. mutans and S. wiggsiae concurrently was higher than those positive for either S. mutans or S. wiggsiae alone (5.11 ± 3.08 vs. 3.19 ± 2.43, p=0.022 and 5.11 ± 3.08 vs. 3.13 ± 2.03, p=0.088 respectively) or those negative for both species (5.11 ± 3.08 vs. 2.11 ± 1.76, p=0.016). For both S. mutans and S. wiggsiae there was a positive correlation between caries experience and bacterial load (r=0.458, p<0.001 and r=0.358, p<0.001 respectively).
Conclusions: The associations of S. mutans and S. wiggisiae with childhood caries may reflect cooperation between the two species. These results will serve as preliminary baseline data for our current study of preventive agents in children. This study is supported by the CRC Oral Health and GC Corporation.
Methods: A cohort of 100 6-year-old children with caries, enrolled into an on-going multi-centre trial, provided salivary samples. Bacterial DNA was extracted and the prevalence and bacterial load of 14 species determined using a custom-made quantitative polymerase chain reaction array. Caries experience was assessed by the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth using WHO criteria.
Results: The prevalence of Actinomyces odontolyticus, Actinomyces viscosus, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Neisseria flava, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus salivarius/thermophiles and Veillonella dispar was high (>75% of samples). Less prevalent bacteria included Scardovia wiggsiae (64%), Lactobacillus casei/paracasei/zeae (24%), Bifidobacterium dentium (12%) and Streptococcus sobrinus (9%). Lactobacillus acidophilus was not detected in any samples. With regard to S. mutans and S. wiggsiae, 48% were positive for both species concurrently, 28% for S. mutans alone, 15% for S. wiggsiae alone, and 9% were negative for both. The mean caries experience of children positive for S. mutans and S. wiggsiae concurrently was higher than those positive for either S. mutans or S. wiggsiae alone (5.11 ± 3.08 vs. 3.19 ± 2.43, p=0.022 and 5.11 ± 3.08 vs. 3.13 ± 2.03, p=0.088 respectively) or those negative for both species (5.11 ± 3.08 vs. 2.11 ± 1.76, p=0.016). For both S. mutans and S. wiggsiae there was a positive correlation between caries experience and bacterial load (r=0.458, p<0.001 and r=0.358, p<0.001 respectively).
Conclusions: The associations of S. mutans and S. wiggisiae with childhood caries may reflect cooperation between the two species. These results will serve as preliminary baseline data for our current study of preventive agents in children. This study is supported by the CRC Oral Health and GC Corporation.