title: PCR detection of specific Leishmania-DNA in patients with periodontal disease.
abstract: This study deals with the detection of Leishmania braziliensis DNA in gingival specimens from 10 individuals who all had suffered from cutaneous leishmaniasis 5-10 years prior to the examination and all had been treated with anti-leishmaniasis drugs. This preliminary study gives an interesting contribution to the oral microbiology of this disease, with the observation that inflamed periodontal tissues can serve as a factor affecting the dispersion of Leishmania parasites in individuals who had suffered from cutaneous leishmaniasis. These finding are corroborated by the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which demonstrated the presence of Leishmania DNA in tissue samples of patients with periodontal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Center for Odontological Research, Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Andes, calle 23 entre Av. 2 y 3, Edificio el Rectorado, Mérida 5101, Venezuela. premoli@ula.ve
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Premoli-de-Percoco
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Añez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guevara
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ramirez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011859:Radiography; D014687:Venezuela
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate