High prevalence of human cytomegalovirus in a population of periodontally healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) appears to be more frequent in periodontally affected patients than in healthy control groups. Based on this assumption, it has been suggested that HCMV may play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this uncontrolled study was to assess the occurrence of HCMV in a large unselected population of periodontally healthy subjects.


METHODS
Fifty consecutive periodontally healthy patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. Two samples of gingival crevicular fluids were taken from two non-bleeding on probing sites for each patient. Samples were collected from the anterior and the posterior area. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the presence of HCMV.


RESULTS
HCMV was detected in 17 (33%) out of 50 participants. Ten subjects showed presence of HCMV on both anterior and posterior sites, whereas the remaining 7 only had HCMV present in the anterior sites. No differences were noticed between HCMV positive and HCMV negative in terms of smoking (p = 0.33), drinking habits (p=0,94) or the presence of prosthodontic restorations (p= 0,89).


CONCLUSIONS
HCMV was detected in a high proportion of periodontally healthy subjects. Its presence was not found to be influenced by smoking or drinking habits.
Foglio-Bonda
Pier-Luigi
PL
Dental Clinic, University of Eastern Piedmont A. Avogadro, Novara, Italy. fbonda@med.unipmn.it
Gabriele
Mario
M
Graziani
Filippo
F
De Andrea
Marco
M
Mondini
Michele
M
Gariglio
Marisa
M
D000328:Adult; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult