[Periodontal diseases with Entamoeba gingivalis].

At the beginning of our century Entamoeba gingivalis was considered to be a pathogenic bacteria, capable to induce parodontal lesions. Later on it was also found in healthy persons, and the germ was less interesting from the medical view-point. In the present study the authors report their findings concerning E. gingivalis in 135 patients with various stomatological affections including: dental caries, parodontopathies, pulpitis, gangrene, ulcero-necrotic stomatitis etc. The study was started following the discovery of the amoeba in the gingival exsudate of a male aged 19 years with chronic superficial marginal parodontopathy, who, after a treatment with metronidazol, was cured. Entamoeba gingivalis belongs to the Rhizopoda class, together with E. dysenteriae, and E. coli, but, in contrast with these strains it does not have resistance forms (cysts). Oral amoeba were evidenced in 18 out of 78 patients with parodontal lesions (23.07%), in the gingival exsudate, the purulent secretion from parodontal pouches, in the dental tartar, the alveolar fluid following extraction etc. In 117 students from the Faculty of Stomatology, and in 57 patients with various other stomatological affections these germs were not found in any of the abovementioned products. Microscopic examination of fresh preparations, and of Giemsa-stained smears was the main method for the detection of the amoeba. The etiopathogenic role of E. gingivalis is re-examined in discussions regarding certain parodontopathies.