TY - JOUR

T1 - Transmission of periodontal bacteria and models of infection

AU - van Winkelhoff, AJ

AU - Boutaga, K

PY - 2005/10

Y1 - 2005/10

N2 - Background: Bacteria play an essential role in the aetiology of periodontitis. Most bacterial species isolated from subgingival plaque are indigenous to the oral cavity. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis are detected infrequently in periodontal health, which makes these species prime candidates to study person-to-person transmission. The aim of the present study was to review the literature on transmission of these periodontal bacterial species.Method: We review the literature on bacterial typing techniques and summarize the information on clonal distribution of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis in family units based on different typing techniques in order to establish the likelihood for person-to-person transmission of these periodontal pathogens.Results: Vertical transmission of A. actinomycetemcomitans is estimated to be between 30% and 60%, whereas vertical transmission of P. gingivalis has rarely been observed. Horizontal transmission between spouses ranges between 14% and 60% for A. actinomycetemcomitans and between 30% and 75% for P. gingivalis. There is some evidence to show that cohabitation with a periodontitis patient influences the periodontal status of the spouse; however, substantially more information is needed to prove this hypothesis.Conclusions: Transmission of putative periodontal pathogens between family members has been shown. The clinical consequences of these events have been poorly documented. Based on the current knowledge, screening for and prevention of transmission of specific virulent clones of A. actinomycetemcomitans may be feasible and effective in preventing some forms of periodontal disease. P. gingivalis is usually recovered from diseased adult subjects, and transmission of this pathogens seems largely restricted to adult individuals. Horizontal transmissiom of P. gingivalis may therefore be controlled by periodontal treatment involving elimination or significant suppression of the pathogen in diseased individuals and by a high standard of oral hygiene.

AB - Background: Bacteria play an essential role in the aetiology of periodontitis. Most bacterial species isolated from subgingival plaque are indigenous to the oral cavity. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis are detected infrequently in periodontal health, which makes these species prime candidates to study person-to-person transmission. The aim of the present study was to review the literature on transmission of these periodontal bacterial species.Method: We review the literature on bacterial typing techniques and summarize the information on clonal distribution of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis in family units based on different typing techniques in order to establish the likelihood for person-to-person transmission of these periodontal pathogens.Results: Vertical transmission of A. actinomycetemcomitans is estimated to be between 30% and 60%, whereas vertical transmission of P. gingivalis has rarely been observed. Horizontal transmission between spouses ranges between 14% and 60% for A. actinomycetemcomitans and between 30% and 75% for P. gingivalis. There is some evidence to show that cohabitation with a periodontitis patient influences the periodontal status of the spouse; however, substantially more information is needed to prove this hypothesis.Conclusions: Transmission of putative periodontal pathogens between family members has been shown. The clinical consequences of these events have been poorly documented. Based on the current knowledge, screening for and prevention of transmission of specific virulent clones of A. actinomycetemcomitans may be feasible and effective in preventing some forms of periodontal disease. P. gingivalis is usually recovered from diseased adult subjects, and transmission of this pathogens seems largely restricted to adult individuals. Horizontal transmissiom of P. gingivalis may therefore be controlled by periodontal treatment involving elimination or significant suppression of the pathogen in diseased individuals and by a high standard of oral hygiene.

KW - bacteria

KW - transmission

KW - periodontitis

KW - infection

KW - bacterial typing

KW - LOCALIZED JUVENILE PERIODONTITIS

KW - SUBGINGIVAL PLAQUE SAMPLES

KW - POLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTION

KW - ACTINOBACILLUS-ACTINOMYCETEMCOMITANS

KW - PORPHYROMONAS-GINGIVALIS

KW - BACTEROIDES-INTERMEDIUS

KW - A-ACTINOMYCETEMCOMITANS

KW - ADULT PERIODONTITIS

KW - CAPSULAR SEROTYPES

KW - VIRULENCE FACTORS

U2 - 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00805.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00805.x

M3 - Article

VL - 32

SP - 16

EP - 27

JO - Journal of Clinical Periodontology

JF - Journal of Clinical Periodontology

SN - 0303-6979

T2 - 5th European Workshop on Periodontology - Etiology and Pathogensis Leading to Preventive Concepts

Y2 - 5 February 2005 through 9 February 2005

ER -