Prevalence and Molecular Analysis of Novel Newly Identified Periodontal Pathogens in Subgingival Plaque Samples of Saudi Patients with Chronic Periodontitis

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of novel newly identified periodontal pathogenic strains in subgingival plaque samples and relate it with bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and age. Material and Methods: 268 chronic periodontitis patients with a mean age of 46.0 +/- 6.0 years were included. The following microorganisms were evaluated: Campylobacter gracilis (Cg), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), and Tannerella forsythia (Tf). Full mouth examination was registered; the probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level were assessed at six sites per tooth. Dental subgingival plaque samples were taken in the deepest pocket per arch in the maxilla and mandible. DNA analysis was performed using DNA-strip technology. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for statistical analysis. Results: Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia were detected at high level of 80% and 82% respectively. F nucleatum revealed a rate of 94%. Bacterial load significantly increased by increasing mean probing depth of the examined sites. Pearson's coefficient was the highest for Pg (r=0.62, p=0.0001) and the lowest for Cg (r=0.08, p=0.04). The bacterial load significantly increased by increasing the number of bleeding sites; Pearson's coefficient varied from r= 0.14 for Pg (p=0.01) to r=0.39 for Tf (p=0.001). Conclusion: It was confirmed the presence of main putative periodontal pathogens detectable in Saudi periodontal subjects, also providing a comprehensive view for correlation of these putative periodontal pathogens with the increase in probing pocket depth to the presence and load of all the bacterial species.