Oral Colonization by Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax: A PCR-Based Study in Health, Gingivitis, and Periodontitis.

Background: The etiology of periodontitis remains unclear, as is the place of gingivitis in its pathophysiology. A few studies linked the colonization by oral parasites (Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax) to periodontal disease and its severity. The aim of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of these oral parasites among healthy individuals, and in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis in Jordan. Methods: The study was conducted during July 2019-December 2019. Samples were composed of saliva and periodontal material including dental plaque sampled with probes. The detection of oral parasites was done using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The total number of study participants was 237: healthy (n=94), gingivitis (n=53) and periodontitis (n=90). The prevalence of E. gingivalis was 88.9% among the periodontitis patients, 84.9% among the gingivitis patients and 47.9% in the healthy group. For T. tenax, the prevalence was 25.6% among the periodontitis patients, 5.7% among the gingivitis patients and 3.2% in the heathy group. Positivity for E. gingivalis was significantly correlated with the presence of periodontal disease compared to the healthy group with odds ratio (OR) of 6.6. Periodontal disease was also correlated with lower monthly income (OR=8.2), lack of dental care (OR=4.8), and history of diabetes mellitus (OR=4.5). Colonization by E. gingivalis was correlated with gingivitis (OR=6.1) compared to the healthy group. Colonization by E. gingivalis and T. tenax were significantly correlated with periodontitis (OR=6.4 for E. gingivalis, and OR=4.7, for T. tenax) compared to the healthy group. T. tenax was only detected among individuals with generalized periodontal disease compared to its total absence among those with localized disease (19.6% vs. 0.0%; p=0.039). The co-infection rate by the two oral parasites was 11.0%. Conclusions: The higher prevalence of human oral parasites in periodontal disease compared to healthy individuals appears to be more than a mere marker for the disease and might also be associated with disease severity and potential for progression. Thus, the dogmatic view of E. gingivalis and T. tenax as commensals needs to be re-evaluated and their contribution to pathophysiology of periodontal diseases cannot be neglected.

Oral trichomoniasis in raptors in Southern Brazil / Tricomoníase oral em rapinantes no sul do Brasil

A retrospective study of oral trichomoniasis cases in raptors was carried out at "Laboratório Regional de Diagnóstico" of "Faculdade de Veterinária" of "Universidade Federal de Pelotas" (LRD-UFPel) from December 2014 to August 2017. Seven necropsy reports were reviewed. All raptors including Falconiformes and Strigiformes orders were from periurban zones. Four birds were adults, and there was no apparent sex predisposition. Clinical signs included dysphagia, regurgitation, and anorexia. Gross lesions were characterized by multifocal yellow to coalescent caseous nodules adhered to the oral cavity, which extended to the entrance of the esophagus. Microscopically, the lesions were characterized by severe focally extensive heterophilic granulomatous stomatitis. Trichomonas gallinae was isolated in modified Diamond medium of all samples collected from birds. It is believed the transmission occurred by the predation of domestic pigeons (Columbia livia domestica) contaminated with T. gallinae that agglomerate in patios of grain processing complexes.(AU)

Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo de casos de tricomoníase oral em rapinantes recebidos no Laboratório Regional de Diagnóstico da Faculdade de Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (LRD-UFPel) no período de dezembro de 2014 a agosto de 2017. Foram revisados os protocolos de necropsia encontrando-se sete casos. Os animais eram todos de zonas periurbanas e foram afetadas a ordem Falconiformes e a ordem Strigiformes. Das aves afetadas 4/7 eram adultas e não houve aparente predisposição por sexo. Os sinais clínicos incluíram disfagia, regurgitação e anorexia. As lesões se caracterizaram por nódulos amarelados multifocais a coalescentes aderidos a cavidade oral, que se estendiam até a entrada do esôfago. Histologicamente as lesões caracterizaram-se por estomatite heterofílica granulomatosa focalmente extensiva acentuada. Foi isolado em meio Diamond modificado Trichomonas gallinae de todas as amostras coletadas das aves. Acredita-se que a fonte de transmissão tenha ocorrido a partir da predação por estes rapinantes de pombas domésticas (Columbia livia domestica) portadoras com T. gallinae que se aglomeram em pátios de complexos de beneficiamento de grãos.(AU)