Assessment of Mucormycetes in Subgingival Plaque of Periodontitis and Non-periodontitis Patients: An In Vivo Study

Background Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with dysbiotic microbial biofilms. Fungi may also play a role in exacerbating periodontal disease, especially in immunocompromised individuals, where opportunistic infections such as mucormycosis are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. While mucormycosis occasionally manifests orally, its presence in subgingival plaque, a potential microbial reservoir, remains unexplored. This study investigates whether immunocompetent individuals with periodontitis are at risk for mucormycosis. Methods Subgingival plaque was collected from 10 patients with Stage II or III periodontitis and 10 age-matched non-periodontitis controls (aged 18-60 years) at Amrita School of Dentistry's Department of Periodontics. Exclusion criteria encompassed systemic diseases, recent antibiotic or antifungal use, smoking, pregnancy, and antiseptic mouthwash use within three months. Samples were obtained using sterile Gracey curettes, stored in saline-filled cryovials, and cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) at 30°C for 48 hours. Fungal growth was microscopically evaluated for mucormycetes using lactophenol cotton blue staining. The proportion of positive cultures was compared between groups via Pearson's chi-square test. Results None of the samples (n = 20) were identified as containing mucormycetes in either group. No statistics were computed because mucormycosis was constant. Conclusion This study found no evidence of mucormycetes in subgingival plaque, indicating that it may not be a common niche in immunocompetent individuals. Larger studies in immunocompromised individuals using molecular approaches are recommended to elucidate fungal roles in periodontal contexts.