Importance of Dialister pneumosintes in human periodontitis

Anaerobic bacteria play important roles in the pathogenesis of human period ontitis. This study examined the relationship between a potentially new per iodontopathic bacterium Dialister pneumosintes and periodontal disease. A t otal of 73 women and 62 men aged 18 to 86 years participated in the study. Using a 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction identification method, the prese nce of D. pneumosintes was determined in paper-point samples from periodont al pockets of 105 periodontitis and 30 gingivitis patients. D. pneumosintes was detected in 83% of patients having severe periodontitis and in 19% of patients having slight periodontitis. We suggest adding D. pneumosintes to the group of suspected periodontal pathogens.