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. 2012 May 1;17(3):e495-500.
doi: 10.4317/medoral.17592.

Horizontal transmission of Streptococcus mutans in schoolchildren

Pilar Baca  1 , Ana-M Castillo, M-Julia Liébana, Francisca Castillo, Antonio Martín-Platero, José Liébana
Affiliations

Horizontal transmission of Streptococcus mutans in schoolchildren

Pilar Baca et al. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. .

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze possible horizontal transmission patterns of S. mutans among 6-7-yr-old schoolchildren from the same class, identifying genotypes and their diversity and relationship with caries disease status.

Study design: Caries indexes and saliva mutans streptococci and lactobacilli counts were recorded in 42 schoolchildren. Mutans streptococci colonies were identified by means of biochemical tests and all S. mutans strains were genotyped by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction. A child was considered free of S. mutans when it could not be isolated in 3 samples at 1-week intervals.

Results: S. mutans was isolated in 30 schoolchildren: 20 having one genotype and 10 two genotypes. Higher mutans streptococci and caries index values were found in those with two genotypes. Five genotypes were isolated in more than 1 schoolchild and one of these was isolated in 3 schoolchildren. Our results suggest that horizontal transmission may take place.

Conclusion: Schoolchildren aged 6-7 yrs may be the source of mutual transmission of S. mutans.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
AP-PCR fingerprint of seven schoolchildren. Three genotypes of S. mutans are shown: one isolated in children 17 and 22, another in children 04, 06, and 10, and the third in children 23 and 35.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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