Relationships between Solobacterium moorei and Prevotella intermedia in subgingival microbiota of periodontitis patients with halitosis: A preliminary study using qPCR

OBJECTIVE: Solobacterium moorei is suggested to be associated with the production of volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) and can be found in subgingival plaques of deep periodontal pockets. We examined whether this bacterium’s count was reduced in periodontitis patients with halitosis following non-surgical periodontal treatment, while the bacterial count of Prevotella intermedia was measured simultaneously as a control. MATERIAL & METHODS: This clinical study included 20 adults with chronic periodontitis who complained of halitosis. The bacterial relationship in the subgingival plaque sample was measured after 8 weeks post-treatment, including the probing pocket depth (PPD). Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to measure the proportion of S. moorei, while the concentrations of H(2)S and CH(3)SH were determined using oral ChromaTM. RESULTS: The presence of S. moorei was consistently observed in participants with periodontitis before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment and consistent showed a significantly lower proportion compared with P. intermedia. Solobacterium moorei showed a strong positive correlation with H(2)S and CH(3)SH concentrations, but a negative correlation with deep periodontal pocket measurements. Conversely, reduced P. intermedia may be more associated with a deep pocket, independent of the concentration of CH(3)SH. CONCLUSION: The study data showed that the proportion of S. moorei in the subgingival biofilm can be related to halitosis in periodontitis patients.