title: Salivary microflora and mode of delivery: a prospective case control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous cross-sectional studies have suggested that the mode of delivery can influence the composition of oral microflora. The aim of this prospective study was to compare the salivary colonization in vaginally delivered children with children delivered by Caesarian section (C-section) during their first 6 months of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 149 consecutively enrolled infants, delivered either vaginally (n = 96) or by C-section (n = 53) that volunteered after consent of their parents. Saliva samples were collected within 2 days after birth and then after 1, 3, and 6 months. A saliva sample from the mothers was obtained 6 months after delivery. The parents were asked to complete a questionnaire on socioeconomic factors, lifestyle, and hygiene at baseline and throughout the study period. All samples were analyzed with 13 pre-determined bacterial probes using checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups were balanced at baseline concerning all relevant background factors. Gram-positive streptococci (S. mitis, S. salivarius) displayed the highest counts in both groups but a greater diversity was observed in the vaginally delivered group. A. naeslundi, A. odontolytics, F. nucleatum and L. salivarius were only detected among the vaginally delivered infants. The prevalence of S. sanguinis, S. gordoni, R. denticariosa, and B. dentinum increased by age in both groups but the prevalence was significantly lower in the C-section group (p < 0.05). There was a link between the mothers and their offspring's concerning the salivary microbial profile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The microbial composition in saliva differs by the mode of delivery during the first six months of life.
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Unit, Halland Hospital, SE-30185, Halmstad, Sweden. katarina.boustedt@regionhalland.se.|Department of Pediatrics, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 400, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden. katarina.boustedt@regionhalland.se.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boustedt
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 400, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden. josefine.roswall@regionhalland.se.|Department of Pediatrics, Halland Hospital, SE-30185, Halmstad, Sweden. josefine.roswall@regionhalland.se.
authors.forename: Josefine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roswall
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 400, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden. gunnar.dahlen@odontologi.gu.se.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dahlén
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 400, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden. jovanna.dahlgren@gu.se.
authors.forename: Jovanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dahlgren
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Unit, Halland Hospital, SE-30185, Halmstad, Sweden. stwe@sund.ku.dk.|Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Nörre Allé 20, Copenhagen N, Denmark. stwe@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Svante
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Twetman
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology