Molecular study of Trichomonas Tenax prevalence in periodontal lesions of childrens with down 's syndrome

Abstract

Trichomonas tenax, a commensal flagellated protozoan, inhabits in human oral cavity. This parasite is cosmopolitan and frequently found in patients with poor oral hygiene and advanced periodontal disease. In some studies mentioned that the prevalence of this parasite is higher in immuno compromised patients and genetic disorders,like downs syndrome whitch the severity of periodontal destruction,exceeds that explainable by local factors only. The clinical importance of this micro organism is the related broncho pulmonary infection named pulmonary trichomonyasis, that reported mainly in patients with underlying cancers or other lung disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate and comparison the prevalence of T.tenax, in periodontal lesions of children with downs syndrome and healthy children. Methods and materials : In a case-control study,52 children(24 girls and 28 boys) with downs syndrome in an age group of 5-12 years old,selected from institutes of Tabriz. The control group was matched by age and number with case group consist of 52 healthy children(31 girls and 21 boys) with periodontal lesions. Gingival index and plaque index were measured by loe-silness and Oleary formula respectively. The sampling was performed by entering two sterile paper cones in periodontal pocket for 20 seconds, then samples was surveid with PCR method. The statistical analysis was performed by the Chisquare test (signification level 0/005) Results : In downs syndrome 51.9% and 48.1% had gingival index equal to 2 and 3 respectively and none had gingival index equal to 0 and 1. In healthy group 34.6% ,44.2% and 21.2% had gingival index equal to 1,2 and 3 respectively and none had gingival index equal to 0. There was a significant difference in gingival index between two groups . Down infants have an average of 72.3% plaque index and healthy infants have an average of 69.1% plaque index. There was not a significant difference in plaque index between two groups . In down children 14 cases(26.9%) have a positive PCR test for T.tenax and in healthy group 5 cases(9.6%) have a positive PCR test for T.tenax. There was a significant difference between down and healthy infants for T.tenax infection. Conclusion : It is resulted from this study that the infectivity with T.tenax and gingival index in downs syndrome infants are higher than normal children, however there is not a significant difference in plaque index between two groups, so concluded that the systemic factors are important for infection of T.tenax in down children.