Molecular and serological typing of Streptococcus mutans strains isolated from young Galician population: relationship with the oral health status

  1. Nancy Saltos Rosero 1
  2. Rafael Seoane Prado 1
  3. Antonio Aguilera Guirao 1
  4. Ysabel Santos Rodríguez 1
  1. 1 Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
    info

    Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

    Santiago de Compostela, España

    ROR https://ror.org/030eybx10

Revista:
International microbiology: official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology

ISSN: 1618-1905

Ano de publicación: 2020

Volume: 23

Número: 4

Páxinas: 589-596

Tipo: Artigo

Outras publicacións en: International microbiology: official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology

Resumo

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Streptococcus mutans and its serotypes in samples from oral cavity of young Galician population and their relationship with the oral health state. The variables generally associated with dental caries, such as salivary flow rate, buffering capacity, eating habits, and lifestyle, were also analysed. No relationship was found between the variables studied and the presence of S. mutans in the oral cavity or the existence of dental caries. Presumptive strains of S. mutans were isolated from saliva samples from 48% of the analysed population. The use of conventional microbiological methods, API 20 Strep system, and species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allowed to substantiate the identity of the strains as S. mutans. Multiplex PCR protocols, developed in this study for the simultaneous detection of S. mutans and serotypes c, e, and f and for detection of S. mutans and serotype k, also confirmed this result and demonstrated that serotype c was predominant in the studied young Galician population (86%). Serotypes e (8%), k (3%), and f (2%) were also detected. Serotype c was detected in carious and caries-free subjects, while the remaining serotypes were only found in subjects with caries.