Relationship between maternal chronic periodontitis and coinfection of Epstein-Barr virus and Porphyromonas gingivalis

Abstract

Objective To study the correlation between coinfection of Epstein⁃Barr virus (EBV) and Porphyromon⁃ as gingivalis(Pg) and severity of maternal chronic periodontitis in pregnant women. Methods Saliva samples were collected from 36 pregnant women with chronic periodontitis and 36 pregnant women with healthy periodontal status. EBV was detected using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Pg was detected using 16S rRNA based PCR. Clini⁃ cal periodontal indices were recorded through periodontal examination. Correlation between the coinfection and severity of maternal chronic periodontitis were analyzed. Results The results showed no significant differences in prevalence of infection of EBV or Pg between pregnant women with chronic periodontitis and with healthy periodontal status (P＞ 0.05). Contemporaneously, coinfection prevalence of EBV and Pg showed significant differences between two groups (P = 0.028). Coinfection of EBV and Pg showed significant association with bleeding on probing index (BOP) (P = 0.003). No significant associations were found between the coinfection and periodontal depth(PD) or clinical attachment loss (CAL) (P＞0.05). Conclusion Relationship between coinfection of EBV and Pg and maternal chronic periodonti⁃ tis needs further investigation.

Keywords

• Pregnant women
• Chronic periodontitis
• Epstein-Barr virus
• Porphyromonas gingivalis
• Coinfection