Oro-dental bacteria in various atherosclerotic arteries.
Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA has been detected in at least 40% of all major arteries affected by atherosclerosis, but several other microorganisms have also been detected. In this study, diseased vessels were evaluated for the presence of the DNA of seven oro-dental bacteria and two nonoral bacteria. A polymerase chain reaction technique was employed using primer pairs based on 16S rRNA genes. Of 32 specimens tested, 10 (31.2%) were DNA positive: seven for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and three for Prevotella intermedia. The DNA was found in specimens from the aorta and the iliac, internal mammary and coronary arteries. Eleven (35.4%) of 31 specimens had been shown previously to be positive for Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA. A mixture of chlamydiae and oro-dental bacteria was found in three cases. These findings may have implications for antibiotic prophylaxis of coronary heart disease if directed solely at Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Taylor-Robinson
D
D
Imperial College School of Medicine, St. Mary's Campus, Winston Churchill Wing, Paddington, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom, dtr@vache99.freeserve.co.uk
Aduse-Opoku
J
J
Sayed
P
P
Slaney
J M
JM
Thomas
B J
BJ
Curtis
M A
MA
D001011:Aorta / Q000382:microbiology; D001158:Arteries / Q000382:microbiology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000382:microbiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*