Periodontal pathogens in the shallow pockets of immigrants from developing countries

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of typical periodontitis‐associated microorganisms in refugees arriving from non‐industrialized countries, and to relate the presence of these organisms to the periodontal condition of the subjects. Thirty males between 35‐44 years of age were surveyed. Dental plaque, calculus, gingivitis, loss of attachment, and probing depths were recorded for all surfaces. A total of 90 microbiological samples were taken with paper points from mesial sites of teeth 16, 36 and 41. Microbiological test sites were grouped by probing depths and loss of attachment. Only 16.8% of all surfaces had probing depths > 3 mm, although 90.7% of surfaces had loss of attachment > 1 mm. Twenty‐one sites with obvious periodontal destruction (PD > 3 mm, LA > 2 mm) showed the greatest recovery of Porphyromonas gingivalis (66.7%). However, 51 sites with minimal periodontal disease (PD > 3 mm, LA < 2 mm) and with no gingival recession also showed a relatively high detection frequency of P. gingivalis (34.1%). Twenty‐four of these samples came from 12 patients with no pockets > 5 mm and with less than 10% of all sites yielding pockets > 3 mm. The detection frequencies of Prevotella intermedia (91.6%), Bacteroides forsythus (25.0%), Wolinella spp. (33.3%) and Actinobacilluss actinomycetemcomitans (50.0%) were similar in these sites compared with periodontitis sites. Morphologically distinct isolates, from 19 individuals positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans, were serotyped by indirect immunofluorescence. Five isolates were identified as serotype a, 3 as serotype b and 9 as serotype c. Four isolates reacted only with monoclonal antibodies, specific for a common A. actinomycetemcomitans antigen. In the absence of oral hygiene, periodontal pathogens appear to be more widely distributed in shallow pockets. The results of this study suggest that differences in the microbiological composition of subgingival plaque may exist for this population group as compared with North American and European populations.