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Transmission of oral Prevotella melaninogenica between a mother and her young child
E Könönen1, M Saarela, J Karjalainen
1Department of Periodontology, Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Insights
Mothers likely transmit oral bacteria like Prevotella melaninogenica to their young children, evidenced by shared ribotypes. However, other sources also contribute to children
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Young children's oral microflora is primarily acquired through family transmission.
- Prevotella melaninogenica, an obligate anaerobe, is a common component of the oral microbiome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transmission of Prevotella melaninogenica between mothers and their young children.
- To determine the role of maternal saliva in the oral colonization of infants.
Main Methods:
- Ribotyping was used to analyze genetic diversity among Prevotella melaninogenica isolates.
- DNA was extracted from oral samples of 11 mother-child pairs across two sampling occasions.
- Chromosomal DNA was digested, separated, blotted, and hybridized with rRNA operons.
Main Results:
- 101 distinct Prevotella melaninogenica ribotypes were identified among 248 isolates.
- Mothers and children harbored multiple, often unique, ribotypes.
- Identical ribotypes were found in 6 of 11 mother-child pairs, suggesting transmission.
Conclusions:
- Evidence supports the transmission of Prevotella melaninogenica from mothers to children, likely via saliva.
- Children's oral microflora is influenced by both maternal and other environmental sources.
- Significant genetic heterogeneity exists within Prevotella melaninogenica populations in young children.
Abstract:
Most likely, young children acquire their oral microflora by frequent transfer of bacteria between family members. The possible transmission of obligately anaerobic Prevotella melaninogenica recovered from 11 mother-child pairs was examined by ribotyping. One to 18 isolates (mean 13) per child from different oral sampling sites and 4 to 17 (mean 10) isolates per mother from stimulated salivary samples, collected on 2 occasions, were analyzed. On sampling, the mean ages of the children were 4 months and 32 months, respectively. Restriction endonucleases KpnI and ClaI were chosen for the digestion of chromosomal DNA. DNA fragments were electrophoretically separated, blotted onto a nylon membrane and hybridized with rRNA operon of Escherichia coli. DNA-DNA hybrids were detected immunologically. Extensive genetic heterogeneity, 101 distinct ribotypes, was observed among 248 P. melaninogenica isolates studied. Both mothers and children harbored several (up to 7) ribotypes which, apart from 3 ribotypes, were distinguishable in unrelated subjects. Several P. melaninogenica ribotypes were detected on both sampling occasions over 2 years apart. Identical ribotypes were found in 6 of the 11 mother-child pairs, 1 to 2 similar ribotypes per pair. This suggests the transmission of P. melaninogenica between the mother and her child, probably via maternal saliva. However, the unique ribotypes found in these children also indicate that other sources besides the mother influence the oral colonization of young children.