Prevalence of Hydrolytic Enzymes and Viscous Material Producers in Saliva and Dental Plaque

Abstract

Saliva and dental plaque constituents were screened for their ability to produce β-lactamase, DNase, lecithinase, hyaluronidase, chondroitin sulfatase, trypsin, collagenase, lipase, chymotrypsin and viscous material by the plate and broth methods. Strains freshly isolated from saliva and dental plaque in healthy students were used for this experiment.
β-Lactamase and DNase activities were recognized in 4% of these isolates, while hyaluronidase, chondroitin sulfatase, lipase, lecithinase, collagenase and trypsin activities and production of viscous material were found in less than 1%. Prevotella species were predominant as DNase, β-lactamase, hyaluronidase, lecithinase and chondroitin sulfatase producers. Trypsin producers were identified as Capnocytophaga and Porphyromonas gingivalis. P. gingivalis was the only species producing collagenase.
These results indicate that constituents of saliva or dental plaque have the potential to progress to the exacerbation of odontogenic infections.