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Updated: Aug 9, 2025
Robust Ligature-Induced Model of Murine Periodontitis for the Evaluation of Oral Neutrophils
Published on: January 21, 2020
Associations between Oral Human Herpesvirus-6 and -7 and Periodontal Conditions in Older Adults
Natsuki Hamada1, Hideo Shigeishi1, Iori Oka1
1Department of Public Oral Health, Program of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan.
Background:
The associations between oral human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7, periodontal conditions, and lifestyle-related diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, have not been fully investigated in older adults.
Methods:
Seventy-four older patients who visited Hiroshima University Hospital were enrolled. Tongue swab samples were employed, and a real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect HHV-6 and HHV-7 DNA. Dental plaque accumulation, probing pocket depth, and bleeding on probing (BOP) (i.e., a sign of periodontal inflammation) were examined. The periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) value (i.e., an indicator of the severity of periodontitis) was also examined.
Results:
Of the 74 participants, one participant (1.4%) was HHV-6 DNA-positive and 36 participants (48.6%) were HHV-7 DNA-positive. A significant association between HHV-7 DNA and probing depth was found (p = 0.04). The HHV-7 DNA-positive participants had a higher positive rate of a ≥6-mm periodontal pocket with BOP (25.0%) than the HHV-7 DNA-negative participants (7.9%). Additionally, the HHV-7 DNA-positive participants had a higher PISA value than the HHV-7 DNA-negative participants. However, there was no significant association between HHV-7 and the PISA value (p = 0.82). No significant association was found between HHV-7 and lifestyle-related diseases (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Oral HHV-7 infection is associated with a deep periodontal pocket.
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