TRICHOMONAS TENAX OCCURRENCE IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM PERIODONTITIS

The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of Trichomonas tenax in individuals with periodontal disease and also to check the correlation between the occurrence of protozoan and a kind of periodontal disease, bleeding index and dental plaque index. The study involved 77 individuals aged 22-77 years (47 women and 30 men). Culture revealed flagellate Trichomonas tenax. The incidence of trichomonal infection was 32%. In spite of using two different media no Entamoeha gingivalis was found. There was no significant dependence between the frequency of occurrence of T. tenax and age, sex or smoking. There was a correlation between the occurrence of T. tenax and the amount of dental plaque (correlation index=0.3; p=0.06) and there was also a statistical dependence between the occurrence of T. tenax and a kind of periodontal disease (correlation index=0.3; p=0.02)