Salivary EBV DNA in periodontitis - analysis of clinicopathological and serological parameters.

INTRODUCTION AND

OBJECTIVE

Oral diseases affect about 3.5 billion people worldwide, with periodontitis being a major concern due to its potential to cause tooth loss. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which infects most of the global population, is linked to several cancers and may contribute to periodontal disease. Growing evidence suggests a significant role of the EBV in the etiopathogenesis of periodontitis. The aim of the study was to assess the EBV load in saliva and crevice-gingival fluid (CGF) in patients with periodontitis. The study also took into account the clinical stage of periodontitis and the OHI.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The study included a total of 60 patients (36 women and 24 men) treated for periodontitis at the Dental Centre in Lublin. The research used crevice-gingival fluid (CGF), saliva and sera. EBV DNA was detected by PCR in the CGF and saliva, and anti-EBV antibodies were detected in the serum (ELISA test).

RESULTS

EBV DNA was detected in 39.5% of patients vs. 16.7% in healthy people. Both anti-EBNA and anti-EBVCA antibodies level was statistically significantly higher among patients with periodontitis compared to the control group. The obtained results encourage further in-depth research in this area.

CONCLUSIONS

In more advanced stages of periodontitis, higher levels of viral load and higher levels of anti-EBV antibodies were observed. Moreover, the higher the level of antibodies in the serum, the higher the level of EBV viremia was detected. Saliva is a good clinical diagnostic material for EBV in oral diseases.