DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/7249-8J77
Defense Date
2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Dentistry
First Advisor
Tegwyn Brickhouse
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose was to examine the maternal influences on the development of infant oral biofim and dominant bacterial strains of at risk populations. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design to examine factors influencing biofilm colonization and the identification of bacterial strains transmitted from mother to child. Participants were enrolled in Children’s Health Involving Parents of Greater Richmond (CHIP). Plaque and saliva samples were collected from mothers and their children ages 6-36 months. The colonized oral bacteria strains of the mother infant dyads were then compared. Oral bacterial strain identification was completed using the HOMIM Forsythe microbe identification array. Examination for concordant strains was done using the statistical boot strap shuffle in Excel. Results: Forty-one CHIP families were involved in the pilot study. Participants were predominantly non-white , less than high school education 46.3%, and their average age was 29.1 years. Mothers had a caries prevalence of 87.8% and the infant’s caries rate was 26.7%. To date n=14 pairs of the n=41 samples have been processed and analyzed using the HOMIM microarray. Twelve paired samples were not processed due to non-detectable levels of bacterial DNA. Fifteen samples are currently being processed by HOMIM Forsyth. Predominate species transferred from mother to child include S. Oralis, S. parasanguinous, S. mitis, Slakia, and S. anginosis. 425 unique strains of bacteria were analyzed on the array with a maternal concurrence rate of 33%. Conclusion: When comparing total bacterial populations in the oral environment a concurrence of transmission from mother to child was 33%. Higher rates of vertical transmission were observed in S. Oralis, S. sanguinous, and Slakia.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
May 2011