A BACTERIOLOGIC SURVEY OF GINGIVAL SCRAPINGS FROM PERIODONTAL INFECTIONS BY DIRECT EXAMINATION, GUINEA PIG INOCULATION, AND ANAEROBIC CULTIVATION

¹ Department of Bacteriology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, N. Y.

Dark-field examination of suspensions in broth of gingival scrapings from 136 cases of gingival and periodontal disease and of 10 normal subjects points to a similar distribution of microorganisms throughout, with quantitative differences. The more characteristic fusospirochetal organisms (spirochetes, vibrios, and fusiform bacilli) were found in much smaller numbers in normal mouths than in any of the pathologic processes, in all of which they were prominent. Large numbers of these forms were found in a slightly higher proportion of cases in Vincent's gingivitis than in periodontoclasia or in marginal gingivitis. In periodontoclasia, and to a less degree in marginal gingivitis, organisms other than the fusospirochetal group (undifferentiated cocci, leptospiras, branched and unbranched filaments, and other types) were more commonly found or were found in larger numbers. The differences seemed too small to have diagnostic value.

Subcutaneous inoculation of guinea pigs with gingival scrapings from 40 subjects with various gingival or periodontal diseases resulted in typical fusospirochetal infection in from 75 to 92 per cent of trials. When these findings were combined with earlier data to give a total of 104 trials, the proportion of positive responses was found to be similar for the different clinical entities studied.

The distribution of types of microorganisms in anaerobic cultures from 35 cases of gingival or periodontal disease, made either directly from gingival scrapings or from lesion exudates after guinea pig passage, was again similar for the different diseases. Certain microorganisms obtained from gingival scrapings were not found in cultures from guinea pig exudates. These microorganisms, Leptotrichia, Actinomyces, Veillonella, and an anaerobic gram-negative thread form hitherto apparently undescribed, seem in consequence to be unessential to the pathogenic fusospirochetal complex.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. J. Loesche and N. S. Grossman Periodontal Disease as a Specific, albeit Chronic, Infection: Diagnosis and Treatment Clin. Microbiol. Rev., October 1, 2001; 14(4): 727 - 752. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]