title: Detection of Helicobacter pylori by polymerase chain reaction in the subgingival biofilm and saliva of non-dyspeptic periodontal patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori has been associated with the development of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. Although the oral cavity may be a source of transmission, it is unknown whether it acts as a permanent reservoir for this bacterium, particularly in the presence of periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the subgingival biofilm and saliva of subjects with periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were obtained from 56 periodontally healthy subjects and 169 subjects with chronic periodontitis. DNA was extracted from the samples, and the detection of H. pylori was carried out by PCR using the JW22/23 primers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, H. pylori was detected in 24% of all samples evaluated. A significantly higher prevalence of H. pylori was observed in subgingival biofilm samples (33.3%) compared to saliva samples (20%) (P <0.05). H. pylori was detected significantly more often in the saliva and subgingival samples from subjects with periodontitis (23.5% and 50%, respectively) compared to samples from periodontally healthy subjects (7.3% and 11.4%, respectively; P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  H. pylori was detected frequently in the oral microbiota of subjects with periodontitis, suggesting that periodontal pocketing and inflammation may favor the colonization by this species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.forename: Ana Paula Vieira
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018441:Biofilms; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000382:microbiology; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013492:Suppuration
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial