TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence of Fungi in Primary Endodontic Infections of a Greek-living Population Through Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction and Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry
AU - Tzanetakis, G.N.
AU - Koletsi, D.
AU - Tsakris, A.
AU - Vrioni, G.
JO - JOURNAL  OF  ENDODONTICS
PY - 2022
VL - 48
TODO - 2
SP - 200-207
PB - ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC 360 PARK AVE SOUTH, NEW YORK, NY 10010-1710 USA
SN - 0099-2399
TODO - 10.1016/j.joen.2021.11.003
TODO - fungus;  genetics;  Greece;  laser;  matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry;  prevalence;  real time polymerase chain reaction, Fungi;  Greece;  Lasers;  Prevalence;  Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction;  Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
TODO - Introduction: Fungi are considered to be opportunistic pathogens that may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of endodontic infections. The main purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of 2 selected genera of fungi, Candida albicans and Aspergillus spp., using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and to compare the findings with the respective ones obtained by a culture-dependent approach, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). A secondary aim was to assess the presence of other bacteria growing under aerobic conditions. Methods: Microbial samples were obtained from the root canals of 60 teeth associated with pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis. DNA was extracted, and RT-PCR was applied for the detection of C. albicans and Aspergillus spp. pathogenic subtypes. In addition, MALDI-ToF MS was performed to identify microorganisms grown under aerobic conditions. Results: Based on RT-PCR, Aspergillus was detected in 8 cases, whereas C. albicans was detected in 4 cases. Using MALDI-ToF MS, no trace of Aspergillus was detected, whereas C. albicans was identified in 2 cases. Significant differences were revealed in the detection potential for Aspergillus spp. between MALDI-ToF MS and RT-PCR (P = .01); conversely, this was not the case for C. albicans (P = .50). After MALDI-ToF MS, 35 samples showed evidence of bacterial growth. The vast majority was colonized by Achromobacter xylosoxidans followed by Lactobacillus spp., Methylobacterium spp., and Enterococcus faecalis. Conclusions: The findings confirm the presence of fungi in primarily infected canals with apical periodontitis as well as some rarely inspected aerobic bacterial species. A. xylosoxidans was prevalent; however, the clinical relevance of its presence needs to be investigated further. © 2021 American Association of Endodontists
ER -