Contribution of Severe Dental Caries Induced by Streptococcus mutans to the Pathogenicity of Infective Endocarditis
Ryota Nomura, Saaya Matayoshi, Masatoshi Otsugu, Takahiro Kitamura, Noboru Teramoto, Kazuhiko Nakano
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans , a major pathogen of dental caries, is regarded as a causative agent of infective endocarditis (IE), which mainly occurs in patients with underlying heart disease. However, it remains unknown whether severe dental caries that extend to pulp space represent a possible route of infection. In the present study, we evaluated the virulence of S. mutans for IE development using rats with concurrent severe dental caries and heart valve injury.
Topics & Concepts
Streptococcus mutansInfective endocarditisVirulencePathogenMicrobiologyEndocarditisPathogenicityBiologyPulp (tooth)Dental plaqueDentistryMedicineInternal medicineBacteriaBiochemistryGeneGeneticsInfective Endocarditis Diagnosis and ManagementStreptococcal Infections and TreatmentsOral microbiology and periodontitis research