Microbial Ecology of Scardovia wiggsiae and other oral microbiota in Indian children

Abstract

Early childhood caries (ECC) has become a significant health problem especially in children bellow 5 years. It has been on the ascending prevalence in many countries. The novel cariogenic bacteria Scardovia wiggsiae were identified to be significantly associated with severe-early childhood caries in the presence as well as in the absence of Streptococcus mutans. The goal of this current study was to analyse the role of Scardovia wiggsiae and other cariogenic microorganisms like Selenomonas noxia, Streptococcus mutens, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Veillonella parvula in Indian children with and without ECC. Children below 72 months were enrolled in the study and are divided into two groups of 50 each. One group consists of 50 children with ECC and other 50 without ECC. The presence of S. wiggsiae, Selenomonas noxia, Streptococcus mutens, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Veillonella parvula was examined by using 16S rRNA-based Real time PCR technique in saliva samples. The prevalence of S. wiggsiae is abundantly seen in children with ECC compared to children without ECC. Children with ECC have significantly higher prevalence (P<0.05) of S. wiggsiae, S. noxia, S. mutans, and F. nucleatum. In this study, higher and equal association rate is observed between S. wiggsiae and S. noxia, and S. wiggsiae and F. nucleatum in children with ECC. The study have demonstrated that not only a single cariogenic bacteria is responsible for ECC, but the population of oral microbiota may support for the development and progression of ECC.