Low prevalence of subgingival viruses in Aggressive Periodontitis patients

OBJECTIVES: Subgingival viruses are emerging as possible periodontopathogenic factors, alongside Gram negative bacteria. The aim of this pilot analysis was to detect the presence of Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes simplex (HSV), Varicella zoster (VZV) and Epstein Barr (EBV) viruses in subgingival plaque samples harvested from Aggressive Periodontitis (AgP) patients.

METHODS: PCR analyses were conducted to detect the presence of CMV, HSV, VZV and EBV in the subgingival plaque samples harvested by curettes from 20 untreated AgP patients (14 Generalized, 6 Localized cases). Blood samples were collected from each patient, in order to detect the presence of IgG antibodies for the four studied viruses.

RESULTS: No CMV, HSV or VZV were detected in any of the patients. EBV was detected in 3 LAgP cases, and in none of the GAgP cases (p=0.018 Fisher's exact test). Nineteen (95%) of sera were positive for EBV and for VZV IgG, while eleven (55%) of sera were positive for HSV and for CMV IgG.

CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of a small sample size, this study does not support the association between presence of viruses in subgingival plaque samples and periodontitis. Further larger studies are required to analyze the prevalence of EBV in Localized AgP cases.