I got my gum disease from where??
This article discusses how periodontal (gum) disease can be
transmitted between spouses, ouch!
Relationship Between Transmission of Porphyromonas gingivalis
and FimA Type in Spouses
Hiroyuki Asano, Kazuyuki Ishihara, Taneaki Nakagawa, Satoru Yamada,
and Katsuji Okuda
Abstract
Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the major microbial
pathogens associated with chronic periodontitis. To
eradicate such pathogens by periodontal therapy, it is essential
to clarify the source of infection. Recent findings suggest
that the genotype of the fimbriae is one of the important
factors in infection by P. gingivalis. The objectives of the present
study were to investigate the transmission of P. gingivalis
between spouses and to determine the relationship between P. gingivalis
fimA type and colonization. Methods: A total of 14 couples were
selected to investigate the transmission of P. gingivalis and
its association with the fimA types. To examine the distribution
of fimA type in the general population, 32 subgingival
plaque samples from 47 patients with periodontitis were also tested.
The transmission of P. gingivalis strains was determined by using
pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). P. gingivalis strains
isolated from the couples and subgingival dental plaque
samples were studied for fimA classification. Results: The PFGE
patterns of P. gingivalis strains from matched husbands and wives
were identical for six of the 14 couples. In five of these
six couples (83.3%), P. gingivalis strains harboring the type
II fimA gene were present. The proportion of type
II fimA in the strains isolated from couples with probable
intrafamilial transmission was significantly higher than that
in patients with periodontitis or in the group of
samples isolated from one member of a couple. Conclusion: This
study suggests that fimA type II, even though widely distributed
in patients with periodontitis, may be an important factor
in the transmission of P. gingivalis between spouses.
[ J Periodontol 2003;74:1355-1360.]