Correlation among mutans streptococci counts, dental caries, and IgA to Streptococcus mutans in saliva.
Two-hundred and forty individuals were studied, divided into five groups as follows: caries-free children, children with caries, children with rampant caries, young adults with and without caries. Whole stimulated saliva was collected and all individuals were investigated for DMFT/dmft according to the WHO criteria and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S). Quantitative analysis of the total aerobic flora and mutans streptococci in saliva was performed. Also, the level of salivary anti-S. mutans IgA was determined by ELISA. Children with rampant caries showed the highest OHI-S value. The highest total counts of microorganisms were found in the group of children with caries. No statistically significant differences were observed for salivary flow, OHI-S and microorganism counts between the groups of young adults. No correlation between mutans streptococci counts and anti-Streptococcus mutans IgA levels was observed in the studied groups. A correlation between increased anti-Streptococcus mutans IgA levels and caries-free status was observed among young adults but not among children.
Koga-Ito
Cristiane Yumi
CY
Discipline of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis--School of Dentistry of São Jose dos Campos, São Paulo State University.
Martins
Clélia Aparecida Paiva de
CA
Balducci
Ivan
I
Jorge
Antonio Olavo Cardoso
AO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory