Influence of diet and spiramycin onActinomyces viscosus-associated experimental periodontitis.
The effect of two diets, with and without the antibiotic spiramycin, onActinomyces viscosus-induced experimental periodontitis was studied in albino hamsters. Severe periodontitis and root caries developed inA. viscosus-infected hamsters fed a high sucrose diet. Hamsters heavily infected withA. viscosusbut fed a finely powdered laboratory chow comprised of whole grains and oats formed discrete marginal plaques, but did not develop periodontitis.A. viscosuswas not recovered from the plaque microflora of animals receiving spiramycin, and periodontal pathosis did not occur. These findings suggest that dietobacterial interactions and spiramycin may influence initiation ofA. viscosus-associated periodontitis in albino hamsters.
formerly National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Paul H
PH
Keyes
Department of Periodontics, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Thomas E
TE
Rams
formerly Forsyth Dental Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Harold V
HV
Jordan