INTRODUCTION: In recent years, a growing number of studies have suggested the participation of the herpes virus in periodontal disease. OBJECTIVE: this study investigates the relationship between the presence of the Epstein-Barr herpes virus and periodontal infection in patients with chronic periodontitis. METHODOLOGY: subgingival biofilm samples were collected of subgingival sites with probing depths of 4 mm to 6 mm, and > 7 of 28 patients with chronic periodontitis. The control group consisted of 16 healthy subjects without clinical evidence of chronic periodontitis. Additionally, clinical parameters of probing depth, attachment level and Bleeding index were recorded. RESULT: the results showed averages of 2 mm probing depth, 1, 7 mm attachment level and 0.3 % bleeding on probing. Investigation of the herpes virus in the subgingival biofilm of the groups was performed using polymerase chain reaction with species-specific primer. Results of viral analysis indicated the absence of EBV in all subgingival samples analyzed. CONCLUSION: these results found no relationship between the presence of the Epstein-Barr herpes virus and chronic periodontitis.
Chronic periodontitis; viruses; herpesvirus 4; human; ethiology