Title: Detection of <i>Streptococcus mutans </i>and <i>Streptococcus sobrinus </i>on the Permanent First Molars of the Mosuo People in China
Abstract: <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> and <i>Streptococcus sobrinus </i>are associated with the development of dental caries. The purpose of this study was to differentiate these bacteria by morphology, biochemical characteristics and PCR, and to compare their occurrence with the prevalence of dental caries in the Mosuo people. Plaque samples were collected from the permanent first molar in 126 Mosuo people (83 females, 43 males, aged 25–55 years, average age 36.1 ± 7.73). Dental status was recorded as DMFT by WHO caries diagnostic criteria. Males had a significantly lower prevalence of caries and DMFT than females: 11.4 vs. 86.9% and 1.65 vs. 6.95, respectively (p < 0.001). Morphological and biochemical tests gave unreliable results. The prevalence of <i>S. mutans </i>and <i>S. sobrinus</i> was 75.4 and 57.1%, respectively. 26.5% of females and 53.5% of males were positive for <i>S. mutans</i> alone, 18.1% of females and 16.3% of males were positive for <i>S. sobrinus</i> alone, while 50.6% of females and 18.6% of males were positive for both <i>S. mutans </i>and <i>S. sobrinus</i> and<i></i>4.8% of females and 11.6% of males<i></i>were negative for both<i></i>species. The DMFT scores of subjects positive for both <i>S. mutans </i>and <i>S. sobrinus </i>were significantly higher than of those positive for either <i>S. mutans</i> or <i>S. sobrinus </i>alone. These results indicate that subjects harboring both <i>S. mutans</i> and <i>S. sobrinus</i> have a significantly higher prevalence of dental caries than those with <i>S. mutans</i> or<i> S. sobrinus</i> alone.
Publication Year: 2003
Publication Date: 2003-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 26
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