A Preliminary Study on the Prevalence of Red Complex Periodontal Bacteria Among Sarawakian Young Adults

• Main Author: Grace, Bebey
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 2021
• Subjects: QR Microbiology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35196/1/grace.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35196/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Oral cavity is a habitat for a diverse bacterial species that is commensal to the host. However, a slight change in the oral equilibrium may lead to periodontal disease which is the inflammation of the gingival tissue that can lead to tooth loss and supporting gingivae tissue destruction as the severity precedes. In Malaysia, the documentation on periodontal pathogens is still lacking. Therefore, this research would determine the prevalence of red complex bacteria among Malaysian young adults and the risk predictions of getting periodontal disease. A total of thirty-three saliva samples (23 gingivitis, 10 healthy) were collected from young adults of age 18 until 30 years old from Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak. Three different DNA extractions were used to compare the DNA concentration and purity. Next, 16S rRNA gene was amplified via PCR followed by species-specific PCR for red complex bacteria detection. Statistical data was analysed using GraphPad Prism 8.4.1. Despite the low DNA concentration obtained using phenol-chloroform-isoamyl method (3.42 ng/µL) and Norgen kit (5.75 ng/µL), 16S rRNA gene was amplified successfully with little inhibitions as the value of protein assessment for both PCIA (A260/280: 1.51) and Norgen kit (A260/280: 1.77) methods are closest to ideal. Out of the 33 samples tested, T. forsythia were frequently detected in gingivitis sample (56.5%). Up to 30.0% of the healthy samples were found positive for both P. gingivalis, followed by T. forsythia (20.0%). In associating gender to positive detection of red complex bacteria, T. forsythia recorded the highest detection rate of 52.2% among a total of 23 female subjects. In male subjects, T. forsythia (30.0%) and P. gingivalis (10.0%) were successfully identified. This study shows that at least one member of the red complex is found in the oral sample regardless of periodontal health status and gender that maybe useful as an additional evidence for prognosis of periodontal disease and its severity.