Objectives:, periodontal disease is mainly initiated by bacterial accumulation and growing evidence suggests that some herpesviruses could play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the subgingival HCMV frequency detection and subgingival microbiota in periodontitis patients. Methods:, COLCIENCIAS and the Universidad del Valle supported this study (1106-05-16316). A group of 30 periodontitis patients (PG, mean age 46.99) comprising 20 chronic periodontitis (ChP, mean age 44) and 10 aggressive periodontitis (AgP, mean age 24.3) subjects were included. Twenty two periodontally healthy subjects (HG, mean age 31.2) served as controls. Subgingival plaque samples were collected from the 6 deepest sites in all subjects using paper points. HCMV detection was conducted using nested PCR and bacterial identification by culture. The frequency detection of HCMV and specific bacteria between groups was analyzed with the chi² test. The Mann Whitney test was used to assess the cultivable subgingival microbiota composition. Results:, HCMV prevalence was higher in the subjects with periodontitis (PG ; 53.3%) as compared to the HG group (18.1%) (P£0.05). Furthermore, HCMV prevalence was higher in ChP (60%) than in the AgP (40%). The frequency of Prevotella intermedia / nigrescens (91.7%) and Eikenella corrodens (16.7%) was increased in HCMV+ / ChP patients (P£0.05), while Porphyromonas gingivalis (100%) and P.intermedia / nigrescens (100%) were most prevalent in HCMV+/ AgP patients (P£0.05). Levels of P.gingivalis (P£0.05), P.intermedia / nigrescens (P£0.05), Tannerella forsythia and E.corrodens were elevated in HCMV+/AgP subjects in comparison to HCMV-/AgP and ChP subjects. Healthy subjects had lower frequency and proportions of periodontopathic bacteria. Conclusions:, HCMV was more prevalent in periodontitis patients as compared to healthy subjects. Periodontopathic bacteria were elevated in HCMV+ subjects, especially in periodontitis patients. HCMV and periodontopathic bacteria co-infection may be associated with the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.

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