Kressirer CA, Smith DJ, King WF, Dobeck JM, Starr JR, Tanner ACR.
Scardovia wiggsiae and its potential role as a caries pathogen.
J Oral Biosci 2017;
59:135-141. [PMID:
29104444 PMCID:
PMC5665406 DOI:
10.1016/j.job.2017.05.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Streptococcus mutans has been strongly associated with dental caries but caries also occurs in its absence. Association of a new species, Scardovia wiggsiae with childhood caries suggests this could be a new caries pathogen.
HIGHLIGHT
S. mutans is considered a caries pathogen based on its association with caries, and on its ability to produce acid, to survive low pH environments, and to induce caries in experimental animals. S. wiggsiae was significantly associated with severe-early childhood caries in the presence and absence of S. mutans. Further S. wiggsiae was elevated in initial carious lesions in adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances. S. wiggsiae detection was enriched on a low pH agar suggesting acid-tolerance. S. wiggsiae isolates were acid tolerant and produced acid from several sugars at low initial pH values, and were not arginine deiminase positive, characteristics consistent with potential cariogenicity. Cariogenicity of S. wiggsiae was tested in a rat animal model in parallel with S. mutans. While S. wiggsiae by itself showed minimal caries induction, when co-inoculated with S. mutans, there was significant cavity production.
CONCLUSION
S. wiggsiae was associated with advanced and initial caries, is acid tolerant and produces acid to low pH at initial neutral and low pH conditions. In combination with S. mutans, S. wiggsiae was detected in caries in an animal model. Together, these data suggest that S. wiggsiae has many of the characteristics consistent with its being a caries-associated species.
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