Real-time polymerase chain reaction quantification of Epstein--Barr virus in chronic periodontitis patients.
BACKGROUND
Although herpes viruses have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic and aggressive periodontitis, few data in the literature refer to quantification of these viruses in periodontal sites, especially in relation to serological findings.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to compare Epstein--Barr virus (EBV) DNA load in subgingival specimens from chronic periodontitis patients and in periodontally healthy subjects, in relation to serologic testing of IgM and IgG antibodies to EBV.


METHODS
A total of 22 chronic periodontitis patients and 13 controls participated in the present study. Seventy-nine subgingival specimens (one pooled, one from a deep and one from a shallow site), sampled with paper points, were analysed with real-time polymerase chain reaction for EBV. Subjects were also examined for anti-EBV IgG and IgM levels in serum, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
One subject was seronegative for EBV. Three subjects (one patient and two controls) displayed anti-EBV IgM. Their data were excluded from further analysis. All three displayed EBV in their subgingival samples. Nine out of the remaining 20 chronic periodontitis patients and 10 out of 11 controls did not display EBV subgingivally. A statistically significant difference in viral load was observed between pooled and shallow-pocket samples from periodontitis patients but not between samples from deep and shallow pockets (Kruskall--Wallis anova, Dunn's multiple comparisons test).


CONCLUSIONS
Data from the present study do not strongly support the pathogenetic significance of EBV in chronic periodontitis lesions. The data do, however, suggest that parallel serological assessments provide a useful insight into the association of viruses with periodontal disease.
Konstantinidis
Antonis
A
Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. antkon@otenet.gr
Sakellari
Dimitra
D
Papa
Anna
A
Antoniadis
Antonis
A
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral