Incidence of the oral protozoa - Entamoeba gingivalis in a hospital-based population in South India - A preliminary study

Background: Protozoa are single-cell animal organisms that can divide within a host organism. The oral protozoan Entamoeba gingivalis has held a rather chequered position in the history of research. Keyes in 1983 noted that this organism together with the cocci which colonize the surface of the actinomyces filaments was invariably found in close proximity to plaque, especially in patients with poor oral hygiene. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of the oral protozoan E. gingivalis in a hospital-based population (attending the outpatient clinic) in a dental institution in South India. Materials and Methods: The objective of this clinical study was to investigate the prevalence of E. gingivalis in periodontal diseases and to compare its occurrence among gingivitis and periodontitis group and with healthy controls. It is a cross-sectional comparative clinico-microbiological study. Criteria-based sampling was undertaken among patients visiting a dental college in South India. The plaque sample was collected with a sterile curette (Gracey Curette) from the gingival crevice/periodontal pocket and immediately subjected to light microscopic examination by an original wet-smear technique for the presence of E. gingivalis. Results: The results revealed that while 88% of gingivitis patients showed the presence of E. gingivalis, 76% of periodontitis patients and only 4% of healthy subjects showed its presence. Conclusions: The results of this preliminary study showed an increased presence of E. gingivalis in plaque samples of both gingivitis and periodontitis patients when compared to healthy subjects. The incidence of the parasite, as well as the intensity of the gingival infection, is correlated.