Oral Microbial Profiles Associated With SECC Among Thai Families

Abstract Objectives: In this study, we investigated oral microbial profiles between children with severe early childhood caries (SECC) and caries free controls and the transmission of oral microbiota between children and their family members. Methods: Unstimulated saliva was collected from 10 children aged 31 to 85 months, 11 siblings and 16 primary caregivers and pooled dental plaque sample was also collected and the study were performed using cultivation and cultivation-independent approach called denaturing gradient electrophoresis (DGGE). The hierarchical dendrograms were constructed in order to sort the community fingerprints. Results: It showed a highly significant association between numbers of lactobacilli in saliva and plaque with SECC and numbers of aerobes, anaerobes and streptococci were significantly higher in SECC patients than in CF controls. Eubacterial profiles analysed by PCA also presented three separate clusters corresponding to three sampling sites in SECC. In terms of familial microbial similarities, DGGE concordance between children, their mothers and their siblings ranged between 43% to 73% and 35% to 82% respectively. PCA showed apparently separated clustered corresponding to saliva of children and their families. Numbers of anaerobes, facultative anaerobes and streptococci of parents and children also correlated. Conclusion: Data suggest a possible aetiological role for lactobacilli in SECC and potentially provide a novel means of prediction, which may be useful in preventative programs in Thailand and elsewhere. The transmission of oral microbiota including cariogenic bacteria among the family members was demonstrated.