Comparative Evaluation of Mogibacterium timidum in Diabetic Patients With Chronic Periodontitis, Nondiabetic Patients with Chronic Periodontitis, and Healthy Patients During Pretreatment and Posttreatment: A Real-Time PCR Study

Introduction <i>Mogibacterium</i> is a rod-shaped, anaerobic, gram-positive new bacteria. <i>Mogibacterium</i> genus included new species such as <i>Mogibacterium timidum</i>, <i>Mogibacterium vescum</i>, and <i>Mogibacterium pumilum</i> by taxonomic nomenclature in the year 2000. Its presence in oral bacterial flora is believed to increase severity of gingivitis and periodontitis, indicating some link between this bacterium and periodontal disease. Its frequency of detection in subjects with chronic periodontitis and those with diabetes along with chronic periodontitis has yet to be investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of detection of <i>Mogibacterium timidum</i> in subgingival samples of such subjects. Aims We aimed to comparatively evaluate <i>Mogibacterium timidum</i> levels from subgingival plaque in non-diabetic subjects with chronic periodontitis, diabetic subjects with chronic periodontitis, and healthy subjects at baseline and six weeks post-scaling and root planing. Materials and methods The study was conducted in Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Dental College and Hospital, Pune, India. A total sample size of 45 patients was chosen by first screening the patients on the basis of plaque index, probing pocket depth, and relative clinical attachment level. Subjects were divided into the following groups: group A comprised healthy subjects, group B comprised those with chronic periodontitis without diabetes, and group C comprised those with chronic periodontitis with diabetes. Subjects with probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level of 2-3mm were grouped into healthy subjects (group A). Subjects with pocket depth and clinical attachment level of more than or equal to 5mm were grouped into the chronic periodontitis group with and without diabetes in group B and group C, respectively. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for plaque samples taken from gingival pockets for quantification and detection of the count of <i>M. timidum</i>. Results A statistical insignificant difference was found in the pre- and posttreatment counts of the bacteria in healthy subjects. A statistically significant difference was found in the pre- and posttreatment counts of DNA copies of <i>Mogibacterium timidum</i> in group B (chronic periodontitis subjects without diabetes) and group C (chronic periodontitis subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus). The results indicate a significant association of this bacteria with periodontal destruction especially in diabetic subjects. The counts of the bacteria were highest in diabetic group, followed by the non-diabetic group (both having chronic periodontitis), with least counts in the healthy group both during pre- and posttreatment. Conclusion Significant association between chronic periodontitis, diabetes, and <i>Mogibacterium</i> is seen with the highest numbers of bacteria and destruction in the diabetic group, followed by the only chronic periodontitis group, and least association in the healthy group.