Total viable count and differential count of vibrio (campylobacter) sputorum, fusobacterium nucleatum, selenomonas sputigena, bacteroides ochraceus and veillonella in the inflamed and non inflamed human gingival crevice

From 3 groups of individuals with non inflamed, slightly inflamed or moderately inflamed gingiva 3 to 4 paperpoint samples were taken from different buccal gingival crevices in each individual. Samples were cultivated on a modified CBRCA medium which permitted the differential count of five groups of gram-negative anaerobes. The total count per volume units was 9-times higher in moderately inflamed than in non inflamed crevices. A significant increase in the proportion of Vibrio (Campylobacter) sputorum and Fusobacterium nucleatum occurred with inceasing gingival index score. Bacteroides ochraceus and Selenomonas sputigena, though present in low numbers also increased slightly. The proportion of Veillonella seemed independent of gingival index score. This added up to a significant increase in the proportion of cultivable gram-negative organisms with increasing gingival index score.