PREDOMINANT CULTIVABLE MICROORGANISMS ON THE TONGUE OF PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN

A comprehensive and longitudinal study of the composition of the tongu e microbiota in nine healthy, preschool children was performed. Sample s were obtained from the dorsal surface of the tongue by scraping it w ith a sterile tongue blade. Samples were dispersed, diluted and cultiv ated on non-selective supplemented blood agar and a variety of selecti ve media. Representative colony types were counted, subcultured and mi croorganisms identified using morphological, physiological, serologica l and acid end-product analyses. A total of 56 samples and 1654 isolat ions were made. A very diverse microbiota was isolated from each child . Streptococcus was the predominant genus with S. salivarius and S. mi tis the most prevalent members of this genus. Stomatococcus mucilagino sus, Neisseria spp. and Veillonella spp. were also present, demonstrat ing a high level of persistence. Aerobic and anaerobic gram-negative r ods were present in low numbers and members of some species, such as F usobacterium, Haemophilus and Prevotella, were infrequently isolated.