[Distribution of Prevotella intermedia in the periodontal plaques of children and their parents].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution of Prevotella intermedia (Pi) among family members by culturing technique and biochemical identification.


METHODS
Of all 60 families, 181 subjects were included in the study. Supragingival and subgingival plaques were collected and cultured, 279 strains of black-pigmented gram-negative anaerobes were obtained. Biochemical identifications were performed.


RESULTS
Pi could be identified from parents and children with healthy periodontal status. The prevalence of Pi in children was 70.49%, which was significantly higher than that in adults (43.33%).


CONCLUSIONS
The result indicates that Pi might be an opportunistic periodontal pathogen that could be colonized in periodontal plaques easily and early. To study the exact role of Pi in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, it is necessary to do longitudinal following study of the subjects.
Liu
M
M
College of Stomatology, West China University of Medical Sciences.
Zhang
J
J
Zhang
Y
Y
Liu
Y
Y
Shi
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000382:microbiology*; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification*