Identification of Fusobacterium nucleatum in primary and secondary endodontic infections and its association with clinical features by using two different methods

Author(s)

Gomes, Brenda P. F. A. ^[1] ; Bronzato, Juliana D. ^[1] ; Almeida-Gomes, Rebecca F. ^[2] ; Pinheiro, Ericka T. ^{[3, 1]} ; Sousa, Ezilmara L. R. ^{[4, 1]} ; Jacinto, Rogerio C. ^{[5, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] State Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Piracicaba Dent Sch, Dept Restorat Dent, Div Endodont, Av Limeira 901 Bairro Areao, Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Ctr Lusiada UNILUS, Fac Med Sci, Santos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Operat Dent, Div Endodont, Sch Dent FOUSP, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Fed Univ Pelotas UFPEL, Sch Dent, Dept Semiol & Clin, Div Endodont, Pelotas, RS - Brazil

^[5] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Dent, Dept Prevent & Restorat Dent, Aracatuba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CLINICAL ORAL INVESTIGATIONS; v. 25, n. 11, p. 6249-6258, NOV 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Objective Fusobacterium nucleatum is an important oral pathogen involved in endodontic infections. This study aimed to assess the frequency of Fusobacterium nucleatum in primary and secondary endodontic infections and its associations with the clinical features in a Brazilian population by using both culture and nested PCR methods. Methods A total of 100 microbial samples from patients with primary (n=50) and secondary endodontic infections (n=50) were analyzed by using culture and nested PCR methods. Strict anaerobic techniques were used for culture and identification of F. nucleatum. The DNA extracted from the samples was analyzed for the presence of target species by using species-specific primers. Results Culture and nested PCR methods detected F. nucleatum, respectively, in 11/100 and 82/100 root canals. F. nucleatum was isolated by culture from 10/50 (20%) root canals with primary infections and from 1/50 (2%) root canal with secondary/persistent infections. Nested PCR detected F. nucleatum in 42/50 (84%) root canals with primary infections and in 40/50 (80%) root canals with secondary/persistent endodontic infections. F. nucleatum was associated with spontaneous pain, tenderness to percussion, pain on palpation, swelling, tooth mobility, wet root canals, hemorrhagic exudate, tooth decay, inadequate restoration, and poor endodontic filling. Conclusion F. nucleatum was found in more cases of primary endodontic infections than in cases of secondary/persistent ones. A higher prevalence of F. nucleatum was detected by using the nested PCR method than by using culture. The presence of F. nucleatum in the root canals was associated with several clinical features. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/23479-5 - Microbiomes and immunobiological aspects in endodontic infections
• Grantee: Brenda Paula Figueiredo de Almeida Gomes
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants