The incidence of Entamoeba gingivalis in the oral cavity
Cechová, L.; Leifertová, I.; Lisá, M.
Acta Universitatis Carolinae. Medica 33(7-8): 549-559
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-7116 PMID: 3455639 Document Number: 299090
Within the framework of the research grant altogether 672 persons, divided into three groups, were examined for the presence of E. gingivalis in the oral cavity. In the first group the presence of E. gingivalis was evaluated with regard to the age, sex, smoking and dental decay (520 persons aged 3 to 80 years). Microscopical examination revealed 40.19% positive cases. The highest percentage of incidence was in the age groups of 16 to 18 years old patients, 73.33%, and 19 to 22, 75.86%; the lowest percentage in the groups of 3 to 6, 10.9%, and 7 to 15, 13.33%. A break in the frequency of incidence at the age about 15 years is highly significant. With regard to sex, in all age categories there was a higher infection rate of E. gingivalis in males than females, only in the age group of 51 to 80 years the percentage of incidence was higher by 8.3% in females. In children and adolescents the presence of the amoeba was investigated in relation with decay. In 260 examined persons, 32 positive cases were found and dental decay was demonstrated not to exert any influence on the presence of E. gingivalis in the oral cavity. In adult patients aged 18 to 80 the effect of smoking on the incidence of E. gingivalis was examined. Out of 200 patients there were 48.5% of smokers with the average infection rate with E. gingivalis of 68.1%. The percentage of attacks byE. gingivalis in smokers continually decreases with increasing age. In the frequency of the incidence of E. gingivalis in the total evaluation from 18 to 80 years there is no significant difference between smokers and non-smokers. In the second group the incidence of E. gingivalis was investigated in edentulous patients (102 persons with artificial dentures, 38 males and females) and 9 positive cases were found. Extraction of the last tooth in these patients was carried out within 2 to 20 weeks. It is obvious that the incidence of the amoeba is due both to the presence of teeth and the time elapsed since the last extraction. The third group included 50 persons with healthy parodontium. The average percentage of the incidence of E. gingivalis in them is 21.95%, in males being higher by 2.24% than in females.