Abstract
Gingival exudate or interproximal debris has been obtained from 350 individuals, displaying a wide variety of peridental conditions, and has been cultivated for 48 hours at 37° C. in Boeck's medium. This technique reveals many infections of Endamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas buccalis in the gums that are negative to other means of diagnosis.
In a quantitative survey of 100 dental students in the University of California we have found that infection with Endamoeba gingivalis is closely correlated with the extent of gingival pocket formation (Table I).
We are indebted to Dr. F. V. Simonton for his generous aid in examining this group.
One hundred and eighty-six prisoners at San Quentin have been cultured and superficially examined. Trichomonas buccalis is recovered in culture quite commonly from advanced cases of pyorrhea. This organism is seldom found in smear preparations. It is never found in the normal mouth but may be found in cases with a recent history of active pyorrhea. (Table II.)
Trichomonas buccalis is definitely antagonistic to E. givlgivalis in vitro, so cases harboring both parasites may yield a falsely negative report for the latter when the culture method alone is employed. Putrefactive proteolytic bacteria in excess are antagonistic to the development of buccal protozoa in culture. Protozoa are sometimes closely restricted to limited areas in the gums.
Sixty-four cases have been cultured without adequate dental examination. Twenty-four (37.5 per cent) of these were infected with E. gingivrdis. Three (4.68 per cent) were infected with T. buccalis. The remainder were free from protozoan infections in the mouth.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.