Clinical association of Spirochaetes and Synergistetes with peri-implantitis

Georgios N Belibasakis; Javier Mir-Mari; Philipp Sahrmann; Ignacio Sanz-Martin; Patrick R Schmidlin; Ronald E Jung

doi:10.1111/clr.12690

Clinical association of Spirochaetes and Synergistetes with peri-implantitis

Clin Oral Implants Res. 2016 Jun;27(6):656-61. doi: 10.1111/clr.12690. Epub 2015 Sep 10.

Authors

Georgios N Belibasakis¹, Javier Mir-Mari², Philipp Sahrmann³, Ignacio Sanz-Martin⁴, Patrick R Schmidlin³, Ronald E Jung⁵

Affiliations

¹ Section of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Oral Biology, Center of Dental Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
² Department of Oral Surgery and Implantology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
³ Clinic of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, Center of Dental Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
⁴ Section of Periodontology, Faculty of Odontology, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
⁵ Clinic of Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics and Dental Material Science, Center of Dental Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

PMID: 26354174
DOI: 10.1111/clr.12690

Abstract

Objectives: The microbial composition of peri-implantitis-associated biofilms may resemble that of periodontitis, with some distinctive differences, as identified by various conventional or molecular detection methods. Yet, the complete microbiome of peri-implantitis awaits further characterization. The present clinical study was undertaken with the aim to investigate the association of Spirochaetes, and the more recently identified phylum Synergistetes, with peri-implantitis.

Materials and methods: Submucosal biofilms were obtained from single sites of patients with peri-implantitis (n = 43) or individuals with peri-implant health (n = 41). The samples were analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and epifluorescence microscopy, using 16S rRNA-based oligonucleotide probes for Synergistetes cluster A, subclusters A1 and A2, and Treponema groups I-III and IV.

Results: Treponema group IV was barely detectable, whereas Treponema groups I-III were detected at low prevalence in health, but their prevalence and numbers were significantly increased in peri-implantitis by 48% and 2.4-log, respectively. Synergistetes cluster A was detected in half of the healthy sites, and its prevalence and numbers were significantly increased in peri-implantitis by 30% and 2.5-log, respectively. No quantitative differences were found between Synergistetes subclusters A1 and A2 numbers, as both increased by 2.8-log. Synergistetes cluster A displayed strong correlations with several clinical peri-implant parameters, but Treponema groups I-III only with probing pocket depth.

Conclusion: The present clinical cross-sectional study demonstrates that Spriochaetes of the Treponema groups I-III, but not group IV, and Synergistetes of the cluster A are highly associated with peri-implantitis. Synergistetes cluster A appears to display a stronger association with peri-implantitis than Spirochaetes.

Keywords: Spirochaetes; Synergistetes; dental implants; fluorescence in situ hybridization; microbiology; peri-implantitis.

MeSH terms

Biofilms
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria / isolation & purification*
Humans
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
Male
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Middle Aged
Peri-Implantitis / microbiology*
Spirochaetales / isolation & purification*