Transmission of Streptococcus mutans in a group of Turkish families

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the transmission of Streptococcus mutans in a group of Turkish families using AP-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection. METHODS: Eight mothers who had high S. mutans levels in unstimulated saliva and 8 children aged between 2 and 3 years participated in the study. Plaque samples from each child were collected with the tips of sterile toothpicks for S. mutans counts. Although not part of the original study design, S. mutans samples were also obtained from the unstimulated saliva of the three fathers who shared the same households. Three typical isolates of S. mutans were isolated from TYCSB agar of each subject and identified by sugar fermentation tests. S. mutans ATCC 10449 was used as the reference strain. AP-PCR was conducted with OPA-05 primer. RESULTS: All of the mothers and fathers shared the similar genotypes within their children. The fathers also harbored similar genotypes to their spouses. CONCLUSION: The mothers or the fathers could be the source for the transmission of S. mutans to their children.