A 16S rDNA-based nested PCR protocol to detect Campylobacter gracilis in oral infections

The aim of this study was to describe a 16S rDNA-based nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) assay to investigate the occurrence of Campylobacter gracilis in oral infections. Samples were collected from ten infected root canals, ten cases of acute periradicular abscesses and eight cases of adult marginal periodontitis. DNA extracted from the samples was initially amplified using universal 16S rDNA primers. A second round of amplification used the first PCR products to detect C. gracilis using oligonucleotide primers designed from species-specific 16S rDNA signature sequences. The nPCR assay used in this study showed a detection limit of 10 C. gracilis cells and no cross-reactivity was observed with nontarget bacteria. C. gracilis was detected in the three types of oral infections investigated - 4/10 infected root canals; 2/10 acute periradicular abscesses; and 1/8 subgingival specimens from adult periodontitis. The method proposed in this study showed both high sensitivity and high specificity to directly detect C. gracilis in samples from root canal infections, abscesses, and subgingival plaque. Our findings confirmed that C. gracilis may be a member of the microbiota associated with distinct oral infections, and its specific role in such diseases requires further clarification.