THE CHALLENGE OF GROWING ORAL SPIROCHETES

Research in periodontal disease has shown the presence of oral spiroch aetes repeatedly in subgingival plaque. There is uncertainty as to whe ther these spirochaetes are involved in the actual disease process; ho wever, it has been shown that their presence is a definite marker for disease occurrence, An understanding of their role in periodontal dise ase requires further characterisation of these organisms, Diagnostic t ests would be useful for the clinician and enable treatment for the pa tient to be planned, Studies on characterising the different treponema l species have been limited by difficulties in culturing these organis ms. Moreover, there is a need to obtain pure cultures of these organis ms and to identify them in order to associate particular species with disease and, ultimately, to make probes for their easy detection direc tly from dental plaque. This review examines the methods used, and rep orts our own experience, in obtaining pure cultures of oral spirochaet es. The techniques available and the problems that occur when identify ing these organisms are also considered.