Comparative analysis of two oral bacteria (Prevotella intermedia and Tannerella forsythia) in hypertensive and healthy individuals in Mthatha, South Africa

Objective: Dysbiosis of the oral microbiota is considered a trigger for immuno-inflammatory processes at the root of many dysfunctions in the body. It is suspected in the etiology of arterial hypertension. However, few studies have investigated the potential impact of the oral microbiome on the etiology of hypertension. This work sought to evaluate the influence of Prevotella intermedia and Tannerella forsythia oral dysbiosis on the risk of hypertension in the South African population. Patients and Methods: A case-control study was conducted involving saliva samples from 24 healthy participants and 23 hypertensive patients who attended the Gateway Clinic in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province. DNA was extracted from the samples, and real-time PCR was conducted to detect the presence of target bacteria in both groups. The fold change in bacterial presence was then calculated for comparison. Results: Findings showed that hypertensive participants consumed more coffee (38.30%) and were less physically active (46.81%) than non-hypertensives while suffering more dental problems. Although both target bacteria were present in both groups, only P. intermedia exhibited a notably greater abundance in the hypertensive group. Conclusions: This study suggests that lifestyle habits, such as coffee consumption, lack of exercise, poor oral hygiene, and oral dysbiosis characterized by P. intermedia, could play a role in the onset or aggravation of hypertension, with potential implications for dental health.