Peri-implantitis-associated methanogens: a preliminary report

Methanogens have already been described in periodontitis but not in peri-implantitis. Thirty peri-implantitis samples and 28 control samples were collected in 28 consenting peri-implantitis patients. PCR-sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used as a broad-spectrum screening method and results were further confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR targeting the mcrA genes. Results showed a methanogen community dominated by Methanobrevibacter oralis in 31/58 (51%) samples including 16/28 (57%) control samples and 15/30 (50%) peri-implantitis samples. Methanobrevibacter massiliense was detected in 5/58 (8.6%) samples including 3/28 (1%) control samples and 2/30 (6.7%) peri-implantitis samples. The prevalence of M. oralis or M. massiliense did not significantly differ in peri-implantitis and control samples (exact Fisher test, P = 0.61 and P = 0.67, respectively). Further ponderation of the methanogen load by the real-time quantitative PCR for actin human gene again indicated non-significant difference (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.48 and P = 0.40, respectively). These data show that the prevalence of methanogens does not differ in peri-implantitis lesions and healthy sites, when individuals are their own control. These data do not allow assigning a specific pathogenic role to methanogens in peri-implantitis; methanogens rather are part of the commensal and normal flora of the oral cavity.