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Identification of microorganisms in irreversible pulpitis and primary endodontic infections with respect to clinical and radiographic findings

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Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition of microbiota of irreversible pulpitis and primary endodontic infections with respect to clinical and radiographic findings by performing cultures and 16s rDNA sequencing in Iranian patients.

Material and methods

In this prospective cross-sectional study, samples were collected from 41 root canals for 4 main groups of patients. Bacterial identification was performed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 16s rDNA sequencing of aerobic and anaerobic cultivable colonies taken from patients’ culture plates. Additionally, the presence of 13 bacterial species and 3 nonbacterial species was also explored using PCR and species-specific primers.

Results

Sixteen microbial species, 1 fungus (Candida albicans), and 1 virus (Herpes simplex virus) were discovered and isolated. Species with the highest prevalence were Dialister invisus (68.3%), Porphyromonas gingivalis (58.8%), Streptococcus salivarius (58.5%), and Treponema denticola (56.1%). Lysinibacillus fusiformis (19.1%) was detected in the root canals for the first time. Candida albicans was seen in 11 cases (26.8%). Herpes simplex virus (HSV) was seen in 4 patients (9.8%).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that Gram-negative anaerobic oral bacteria are the majority of the microbes in primary endodontic infections. Various combinations of bacterial species were related to different clinical and radiographic conditions. Lysinibacillus fusiformis was detected for the first time in primary endodontic infections.

Clinical relevance

The results of this investigation might help clinicians choose to identify suspected endodontic pathogens in the etiology of each form of pulpal and periradicular diseases to determine the best therapeutic measures.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Vice Dean of Research, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran. The authors claim that there is no conflict of interest related to this study.

Funding

The work was supported by the Vice Dean of Research, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran (Funding no. 6210).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Daneshjoo Blv., Daneshgah Square, Chamran Highway, Tehran, 1983963113, Iran

    Nazanin Zargar & Hengameh Ashraf

  2. Medical Microbiology Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    S. M. Amin Marashi

  3. UCSF School of Dentistry, 707 Parnassus Ave. Room-D 3226, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0758, USA

    Mohammad Sabeti

  4. School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Daneshjoo Blv., Evin Avenue, Chamran Highway, Tehran, 1983963113, Iran

    Alireza Aziz

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  1. Nazanin Zargar
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Correspondence to Alireza Aziz.

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In this article, all procedures involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Research Ethics Committee of Dental Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (IR.SBMU.IRDS.REC.1394.23)

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Zargar, N., Ashraf, H., Marashi, S.M.A. et al. Identification of microorganisms in irreversible pulpitis and primary endodontic infections with respect to clinical and radiographic findings. Clin Oral Invest 24, 2099–2108 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-019-03075-9

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