title: Bacterial synergy of Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis in a multinational population.
abstract: Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis have been associated with human adult severe periodontitis. In this study, we quantified these putative pathogens in subgingival plaque samples collected from 74 Fijians, 74 Colombians and 73 U.S. Americans stationed at the Multinational Force and Observers encampment in the Sinai Desert, Egypt. A contingency table of T. denticola and P. gingivalis frequency revealed a highly significant synergistic relationship. We discovered that the occurrence of T. denticola apparently requires the presence of P. gingivalis. This represents the first observation of a synergistic relationship between these putative oral pathogens associated with adult severe periodontal disease.
authors.affiliation: US Naval Dental Research Institute, Great Lakes, Illinois.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Simonson
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Childers
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Morton
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003105:Colombia / Q000208:ethnology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005367:Fiji / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013559:Symbiosis; D014208:Treponema / Q000502:physiology*; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology