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Detection of pathogens from periodontal lesions

Detecção de patógenos de lesões periodontais

Abstracts

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively detect A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum from periodontal and healthy sites. METHODS: Subgingival clinical samples from 50 periodontitis adult patients and 50 healthy subjects were analyzed. Both organisms were isolated using a trypticase soy agar-bacitracin-vancomycin (TSBV) medium and detected by PCR. Conventional biochemical tests were used for bacteria identification. RESULTS: A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum were isolated in 18% and 20% of the patients, respectively, and in 2% and 24% of healthy subjects. Among A. actinomycetemcomitans isolates, biotype II was the most prevalent. Primer pair AA was 100% sensitive in the detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans from both subject groups. Primers ASH and FU were also 100% sensitive to detect this organism in healthy subject samples. Primer pair FN5047 was more sensitive to detect F. nucleatum in patients or in healthy samples than primer 5059S. Primers ASH and 5059S were more specific in the detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum, respectively, in patients and in healthy subject samples. CONCLUSIONS: PCR is an effective tool for detecting periodontal pathogens in subgingival samples, providing a faster and safer diagnostic tool of periodontal diseases. The method's sensitivity and specificity is conditioned by the choice of the set of primers used.

A. actinomycetemcomitans; F. nucleatum; Periodontopathogens; Diagnosis; Periodontal disease; PCR


OBJETIVO: Realizar a detecção comparativa de A. actinomycetemcomitans e F. nucleatum de sítios periodontais e sadios. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas amostras subgengivais de 50 pacientes com periodontite do adulto e de 50 indivíduos sadios. Ambos os organismos foram isolados em meio ágar de soja tripticaseína-bacitracina-vancomicina e detectados por PCR. Testes bioquímicos convencionais foram usados para a identificação bacteriana. RESULTADOS: A. actinomycetemcomitans e F. nucleatum foram isolados em 18 e 20% dos pacientes, respectivamente, e em 2 e 24% dos indivíduos sadios. Entre os isolados de A. actinomycetemcomitans, o biótipo II foi o mais prevalente. O par de iniciadores AA mostrou 100% de sensibilidade na detecção de A. actinomycetemcomitans, em ambos os grupos de indivíduos. Iniciadores ASH e FU foram também 100% sensíveis para detectar esse organismo em amostras de indivíduos sadios. O iniciador FN5047 foi mais sensível para detectar F. nucleatum em amostras de pacientes ou de sadios que o 5059S. Iniciadores ASH e 5059S foram mais específicos na detecção de A. actinomycetemcomitans e F. nucleatum, respectivamente, em amostras de pacientes e de sadios. CONCLUSÕES: PCR constitui-se uma ferramenta efetiva na detecção de patógenos periodontais de espécimes clínicos, fornecendo um diagnóstico rápido e seguro da doença periodontal. Entretanto, esse método depende da escolha dos iniciadores específicos utilizados.

A. actinomycetemcomitans; F. nucleatum; Periodontopatógenos; Diagnóstico; Doença periodontal; PCR


ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Detection of pathogens from periodontal lesions

Detecção de patógenos de lesões periodontais

Veruska de João Malheiros; Mario Julio Avila-Campos

Laboratório de Anaeróbios. Departamento de Microbiologia. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, SP, Brasil

Correspondence Correspondence to Mario J Avila-Campos Laboratório de Anaeróbios Departamento de Microbiologia - ICB/ USP Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brasil E-mail: mariojac@usp.br

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively detect A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum from periodontal and healthy sites.

METHODS: Subgingival clinical samples from 50 periodontitis adult patients and 50 healthy subjects were analyzed. Both organisms were isolated using a trypticase soy agar-bacitracin-vancomycin (TSBV) medium and detected by PCR. Conventional biochemical tests were used for bacteria identification.

RESULTS: A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum were isolated in 18% and 20% of the patients, respectively, and in 2% and 24% of healthy subjects. Among A. actinomycetemcomitans isolates, biotype II was the most prevalent. Primer pair AA was 100% sensitive in the detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans from both subject groups. Primers ASH and FU were also 100% sensitive to detect this organism in healthy subject samples. Primer pair FN5047 was more sensitive to detect F. nucleatum in patients or in healthy samples than primer 5059S. Primers ASH and 5059S were more specific in the detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum, respectively, in patients and in healthy subject samples.

CONCLUSIONS: PCR is an effective tool for detecting periodontal pathogens in subgingival samples, providing a faster and safer diagnostic tool of periodontal diseases. The method's sensitivity and specificity is conditioned by the choice of the set of primers used.

Keywords: A. actinomycetemcomitans. F. nucleatum. Periodontopathogens. Diagnosis. Periodontal disease. PCR.

RESUMO

OBJETIVO: Realizar a detecção comparativa de A. actinomycetemcomitans e F. nucleatum de sítios periodontais e sadios.

MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas amostras subgengivais de 50 pacientes com periodontite do adulto e de 50 indivíduos sadios. Ambos os organismos foram isolados em meio ágar de soja tripticaseína-bacitracina-vancomicina e detectados por PCR. Testes bioquímicos convencionais foram usados para a identificação bacteriana.

RESULTADOS: A. actinomycetemcomitans e F. nucleatum foram isolados em 18 e 20% dos pacientes, respectivamente, e em 2 e 24% dos indivíduos sadios. Entre os isolados de A. actinomycetemcomitans, o biótipo II foi o mais prevalente. O par de iniciadores AA mostrou 100% de sensibilidade na detecção de A. actinomycetemcomitans, em ambos os grupos de indivíduos. Iniciadores ASH e FU foram também 100% sensíveis para detectar esse organismo em amostras de indivíduos sadios. O iniciador FN5047 foi mais sensível para detectar F. nucleatum em amostras de pacientes ou de sadios que o 5059S. Iniciadores ASH e 5059S foram mais específicos na detecção de A. actinomycetemcomitans e F. nucleatum, respectivamente, em amostras de pacientes e de sadios.

CONCLUSÕES: PCR constitui-se uma ferramenta efetiva na detecção de patógenos periodontais de espécimes clínicos, fornecendo um diagnóstico rápido e seguro da doença periodontal. Entretanto, esse método depende da escolha dos iniciadores específicos utilizados.

Descritores: A. actinomycetemcomitans. F. nucleatum. Periodontopatógenos. Diagnóstico. Doença periodontal. PCR.

INTRODUCTION

It is known that a great number of different microorganisms exist in the oral cavity but only some species, particularly anaerobic bacteria, have been implicated in the etiology of periodontal disease. Both Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Fusobacterium nucleatum are Gram-negative bacteria involved in the pathogenesis of human periodontitis but they can also be associated to other endogenous infections.9

A. actinomycetemcomitans is an important periodontopathogen that is involved in the etiology of different forms of periodontal diseases, particularly in the localized juvenile and adult periodontitis, and also in several extra-oral infections such as endocarditis, pericarditis, pneumonias, septicemias, and abscesses.3,10,17

F. nucleatum has also been considered an important periodontopathogen for the development of gingivitis and periodontitis and as the most common anaerobic species found in human and animal infections, particularly in the oral cavity.2

The isolation and identification of periodontal pathogens characterize an important tool for increasing knowledge on periodontal microbiota as well as on the etiology and progression of periodontal infections. However, molecular methods have contributed to the detection of putative periodontopathogens in several oral or extra-oral infections.15

Even so, there have been some limitations of bacterial culture such as high cost and time-consuming procedures, besides the fact that it may fails to uncultivable organisms. Additionally, cell viability is necessary for isolation but can be partially lost during transport and in the sampling procedure.6

Several methods for the rapid detection of periodontal pathogens have been reported such as immunologic and immunoenzymatic assays, protein electrophoresis, and DNA-DNA hybridization. However, these methods show different limitations leading to false-positive results as well as cross-reactivity.1,4

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an excellent tool used to identify putative periodontopathogens directly from subgingival samples. Also, it is a fast and efficient method to detect, identify, and differentiate periodontal organisms due to its sensitivity and specificity but appropriate standardization is necessary.5

The aim of this study was detect the presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum from clinical subgingival samples of periodontal patients using two different methods.

METHODS

Fifty patients with adult periodontitis and 50 healthy subjects aged between 20 and 60 years old, of any sex or race, seen at an university of dentistry,in Brazil, were selected. Periodontal patients showed pockets deeper than 5 mm and bone loss, as diagnosed by radiographic examination. None of them was taking antibiotics during a three-month-period prior to sample collection. All subjects involved in this study were informed concerning the study's nature and procedures, and a consent form was obtained.

The Ethics Commission of the Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. University of São Paulo, approved this study.

Initially, the supragingival plaque was removed and subgingival samples were obtained using three sterilized paper points inserted in the deepest site of periodontal pocket or gingival crevice. After 60 seconds, the paper points were transferred into tubes containing 3.5 ml of the viability maintaining microbiostatic medium (VMGA III) transport medium.7

Samples were mixed and diluted 10-fold in VMGA I solution,7 and then plated on trypticase soy agar-bacitracin-vancomycin (TSBV).13 Plates were incubated in anaerobiosis (90% N2 + 10% CO2) at 37ºC for four days.

To obtain a pure culture, characteristic colonies of both organisms were subcultured on blood agar. Then, they were presumptively identified by Gram-staining, and catalase, H2S, and indole production as well as by their susceptibility to sodium fluoride.14 Definitive identification was achieved using biochemical tests.14

Reference strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 29522, ATCC 33384, ATCC 43718, and KC 517 CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, GA, USA) and of F. nucleatum ATCC 10953 were used as controls.

Biotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans isolates were detected by examining the ability to ferment dextrose, maltose, xylose, and mannitol.12

VMGA III media containing clinical samples were warmed at 37ºC for 10 minutes and then homogenized. Next 300 µl aliquots were washed three times with sterilized Milli-Q water. Pellets were resuspended in 300 µl water and then boiled for 10 minutes; supernatants were used as templates after centrifugation (14,000 x g, 10 minutes).1

Also, bacterial DNA was extracted from 10 colonies of A. actinomycetemcomitans and five colonies of F. nucleatum. They were suspended in 500 µl sterile Milli-Q water, homogenized, and then boiled for 10 minutes. Then, after centrifugation, the supernatant (DNA) was used as template.

DNA amplification was performed in volumes of 25 µl containing 8.25 µl sterile Milli-Q water, 2.5 µl 10x PCR buffer, 1 µl MgCl2 (50 mM), 1 µl dNTP (0.2 mM), 1 µl of each primer (0.4 M), 0.25 µl Taq DNA polymerase (0.5 U), and 10 µl DNA.

A termocycler Perkin Elmer, Gene Amp PCR System 2,400, was programmed to: 1 cycle at 94ºC (5 minutes); 30 cycles at 94ºC (30 seconds), annealing temperature for each specific primer pair (Table 1), and 72ºC (30 seconds); 1 cycle at 72ºC (5 minutes) until the final DNA extension. Specific primers used for identifying A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum are listed in Table 1.

PCR products were detected by electrophoresis in 1% agarose gel in 1x TBE at 70 V for 2.5 hours. Gels were stained with an ethidium bromide solution (0.5 mg/ml), and then photographed on a UV transilluminator using the Electrophoresis Documentation and the Analysis System 120. A 1 kb DNA ladder was used as molecular mass standard.

To assess concordance between both detection methods (culture and PCR) as well as to determine their sensitivity and specificity, data were analyzed using a Kappa Index (K).

RESULTS

To detect A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum, 50 subgingival samples from adult periodontitis patients and 50 from healthy subjects were analyzed. In a trypticase soy agar bacitracin-vancomycin (TSBV), nine (18%) clinical samples from periodontal patients were positive to A. actinomycetemcomitans, with 17 isolates recovered, and ten (20%) were positive to F. nucleatum with 19 isolates. Two A. actinomycetemcomitans were isolated from one (2%) healthy subject and 18 F. nucleatum isolates were recovered from 12 (24%) healthy subjects.

A. actinomycetemcomitans isolates were grouped in five biotypes (II, VI, VIII, IX and X). The most prevalent was biotype II.

Table 2 shows the sensitivity and specificity of the primer sets used for detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum from clinical samples. Primers AA were highly sensitive (100%) to detect A. actinomycetemcomitans from both subject groups. Furthermore, primers ASH and FU were also 100% sensitive to detect this organism in healthy subject samples. Primer FN5047, used to detect F. nucleatum, was more sensitive to detect this organism in patients or healthy samples than primer 5059S. On the other hand, primer ASH and 5059S were more specific to detect A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum, respectively, in patients and healthy subject samples (Table 2).

All amplified products were compared and the primer pairs produced amplicons of predicted size (data not shown). Table 3 shows a comparison of the bacterial detection between culture method and each primer used in PCR. It can also be observed that the detection values were as significant to detect F. nucleatum in periodontal patients using primer FN5047 (p<0.002) as to detect A. actinomycetemcomitans in healthy subjects using primer ASH (p<0.000).

Statistical analysis showed that primers AA and FU had higher sensitivity, and primers ASH had higher specificity for detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans. However, primer FN 5047 showed higher sensitivity and primer 5059S showed higher specificity for detecting F. nucleatum (Table 3).

DISCUSSION

A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum are important organisms of both human and animal indigenous microbiota, and they have been involved in several oral cavity infections. It is well known that improvements in diagnostic methods are useful in the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and contribute for increasing knowledge on subgingival microbiota. Bacterial cultures are used for allowing to recovering cultivable organisms, although being a time-and-labor-consuming method. Several molecular tools are often used to identify periodontopathogens but PCR is considered to be an easy and fast detection method even in clinical samples.11

In this study, two methods of detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans and to F. nucleatum were compared. The primary isolation of both organisms studied was performed on selective TSBV medium.13 It is important to mention that although TSBV agar is used as the first choice to isolate A. actinomycetemcomitans, a high recovery rate of F. nucleatum was also observed.

Studies have detected A. actinomycetemcomitans using a PCR method but at different rates in populations with (19%) and without (70%) periodontal disease. These studies have also shown PCR sensitivity and the specificity in comparison to traditional bacterial culture.8,16

In the present study, primers AA and FU had higher sensitivity for detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans but primers ASH had higher specificity (Table 3). On the other hand, when compared to culture for detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans, primers AA and FU showed similarly sensitivity (100%), which confirms their specificity.

DNA from A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum strains were amplified by specific methods and produced predicted bands. It is important to note that both the annealing temperature and magnesium concentration are critical factors in PCR detection.1F. nucleatum detection by PCR (primer 5059S) was similar to culture methods; however, when primer FN 5047 was used, PCR showed higher sensitivity than culture. The study results suggest that PCR is a sensitive and highly specific technique to detect A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum in the subgingival plaque.

In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the usefulness of specific primers based on the PCR detection of periodontal organisms in subgingival samples. The use of molecular tools in the bacterial detection will provide faster and safer diagnostics of periodontal diseases and PCR reaction may be helpful in detecting putative periodontopathogens from subgingival samples. A single method could not be ideal, and using both traditional and molecular methods is recommended in the bacterial detection.

Received on 16/6/2003

Reviewed on 26/11/2003

Approved on 5/2/2004

Partially financied by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp - Process n. 00/07785-3 and 00/07582-5).

Based on thesis presented to Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, 2002.

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  • Correspondence to
    Mario J Avila-Campos
    Laboratório de Anaeróbios
    Departamento de Microbiologia - ICB/ USP
    Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374
    05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brasil
    E-mail:
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      18 Oct 2004
    • Date of issue
      Oct 2004

    History

    • Accepted
      05 Feb 2004
    • Reviewed
      26 Nov 2003
    • Received
      16 June 2003
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    E-mail: revsp@usp.br