Periodontal pathogens early colonization in Down Syndrome pediatric subject without periodontal breakdown.

Background and aim: Down Syndrome (DS) is the most common form of aneuploidia compatible with a long survival. The affected subjects are more susceptible to severe early-onset periodontal disease and show a lower risk to develop dental caries than non affected population. This study investigated the prevalence of five periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque in DS pediatric caucasian subjects. Methods: A sample of 19 consecutive DS children (9 boys, 10 girls; mean age = 6,42±3,52 years) suffering of mild to moderate gingivitis were identified from the patients attending the Dental Division for Subjects with Special Needs of the University of Bologna. As a control, an age and sex matched population of healthy caucasian children was examined. Using paper points, a cluster of four plaque samples for each patient were collected from four different sites at the gingival sulcus and examined by quantitative DNA Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction test. For each tested site probing pocket depth and bleeding on probing were recorded. Results: There were no significant differences of the clinical parameters between the DS group and control group. Tannerella forsythia showed a rate significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (49% vs 9%; p<0.001). Actinomyces actinomycentemcomitans was identified with a higher frequency in the study group respect to the control group (65% vs 8%; p<0.001). Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that some of the main periodontal pathogens are normally present in DS children without sings of periodontitis. Preventive efforts should therefore focus on oral hygiene, diet and host-related factors.