OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of T. forsythensis in Chinese chronic periodontitis patients, and correlate it with clinical parameters.

METHODS108 chronic periodontitis patients were selected according to clinical criteria. In each patient, subgingival plaque samples were collected from two of the periodontitis involved molar sites with the deepest periodontal pocket depth(diseased sites) and one healthy gingival sulcus (healthy sites). T. forsythensis was detected by 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction. Clinical assessments including probing depth, clinical attachment loss and bleeding on probing, were made at sampling sites.

RESULTSThe prevalence of Tforsythensis in diseased sites and healthy sites was 59.72% and 3.70% respectively (P < 0.001). The prevalence of T. forsythensis was significantly higher in deeper pockets and more serious clinical attachment loss, Spearman rank correlation coefficient was 0.48 and 0.51 respectively. The prevalence of T. forsythensis in BOP (+)sites was 61.31%, and in BOP(-) sites was 8.80% (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of T. forsythensis was significantly correlated with clinical parameters, suggesting that T. forsythensis is closely related to chronic periodontitis in the Chinese population.