title: Tannerella forsythia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in subgingival bacterial samples from parous women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information on the subgingival microbiota in parous women is limited. The present study assessed 74 bacterial species at periodontal sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subgingival bacterial plaque was collected from women > or =6 months after delivery. Bacteria were assessed by the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization method. Gingivitis was defined as > or =20% of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP), and periodontitis was defined as radiographic evidence of bone loss and probing depths > or =5.0 mm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 197 women (mean age: 29.4 +/- 6.8 years; range: 18 to 46 years) were included in the study. Gingivitis was identified in 82 of 138 subjects without evidence of periodontitis (59.4%). Periodontitis was found in 59 women (32%). Higher bacterial levels in subjects with gingivitis compared to those without evidence of gingivitis were observed for Actinomyces neuii, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Corynebacterium pseudogenitalis, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Prevotella bivia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P <0.001 for each). Higher bacterial levels in subjects with periodontitis compared to those without periodontitis (BOP not accounted for) were found for 32 of 79 species (P <0.001) including Lactobacillus iners, Haemophilus influenzae, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia (previously T. forsythensis), Prevotella bivia, P. aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Binary univariate logistic regression analysis identified that P. aeruginosa (P <0.001) and T. forsythia (P <0.05) were independently predictive of periodontal status. The odds ratio of having P. aeruginosa at levels > or =1 x 10(5) in the sample and periodontitis was 3.1 (95% confidence interval: 1.6 to 5.9; P <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to P. gingivalis and T. forsythia, a diverse microbiota, including P. aeruginosa, P. endodontalis, P. bivia, and S. aureus, can be found in subgingival plaque samples from women of child-bearing age with periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Fixed Prosthodontics, Division of Oral Microbiology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G Rutger
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hitti
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Regula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirschi
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weibel
authors.forename: Marilynn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rothen
authors.forename: Rigmor E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Persson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010298:Parity; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011247:Pregnancy; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification