OBJECTIVETo investigate human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein-Barr virus-type 1 (EBV-1) in GCF and saliva during experimental gingivitis in Chinese young subjects and to evaluate the effect of the virus in the initial stage of gingival inflammation.

METHODSGCF of 14 and 45 and saliva without stimulating in 11 Chinese young males with healthy gingiva were collected at baseline (day 0), day 7, 14 and 21 after stopping oral hygiene and day7 after reestablishing oral hygiene (day 28). DNA of HCMV and EBV-1 were detected by nested-polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) at the times mentioned above.

RESULTSHCMV was detected in GCF of 4 subjects at baseline, 4 subjects at day 7, 3 subjects at day 14 and 2 subjects at day 21 while the subjects were different. At day 28 HCMV could not be detected. EBV-1 was not detectable in GCF during the experimental gingivitis. HCMV was detected in saliva in 4 subjects and EBV-1 was in 3 subjects. And there is no relationship between the detection of the herpesviruses and the clinical parameters as well.

CONCLUSIONWe suggest that HCMV and EBV-1 are not the important factors during the initial stage of gingival inflammation.