The tongue microbiome in healthy subjects and patients with oral diseases: The first study in Algeria

Background: The tongue microbiome represents an important reservoir of pathogens, indicating an established risk for infections.The purpose of this study was to identify the tongue microbiota in subjects with and without oral diseases and compare oral health status between sexes. Methods: The sample...

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Main Authors: Hafsa Lakhal, Abdelfettah Seghir, Zahia Boucherit-Otmani, Abdeselem Benahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Zagazig University, Faculty of Medicine 2025-08-01
Series:Microbes and Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/article_397192_9820c22177f579105e23a5f8bfa81f10.pdf
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author Hafsa Lakhal
Abdelfettah Seghir
Zahia Boucherit-Otmani
Abdeselem Benahmed
author_facet Hafsa Lakhal
Abdelfettah Seghir
Zahia Boucherit-Otmani
Abdeselem Benahmed
author_sort Hafsa Lakhal
collection DOAJ
description Background: The tongue microbiome represents an important reservoir of pathogens, indicating an established risk for infections.The purpose of this study was to identify the tongue microbiota in subjects with and without oral diseases and compare oral health status between sexes. Methods: The sample consisted of 92 subjects, divided into the following groups: 17 xerostomia patients, 21 periodontitis patients, 22 gingivitis patients, 14 patients with caries, and 18 control participants. Samples were collected from the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the tongue for each subject. Microbial strains were identified using API and Vitek2. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the detection of microorganisms between the two surfaces of the tongue (p= 0.706).The major isolated bacterial species from the tongue samples was Staphylococcus aureus (13% in xerostomia, 13% in gingivitis, 16% in periodontitis, 18% in caries and 24% in healthy subjects). While the most common fungal species was Candida albicans (39% in xerostomia,36% in gingivitis,18% in periodontitis, 25% in caries and 21% in healthy subjects).The distribution of yeast and bacteria varied between groups for certain species but was similar for other species. Moreover, there was a difference in susceptibility to oral diseases between males and females (p= 0.014). Conclusions: This study confirms the richness of the tongue in a variety of bacteria and fungi species in all groups and highlights the difference in susceptibility to oral diseases between sexes.
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spelling doaj-art-1eb150d53e92424ba5bb8081f8b2531b2025-08-20T03:59:16ZengZagazig University, Faculty of MedicineMicrobes and Infectious Diseases2682-41322682-41402025-08-01632062208010.21608/mid.2024.331291.2316397192The tongue microbiome in healthy subjects and patients with oral diseases: The first study in AlgeriaHafsa Lakhal0Abdelfettah Seghir1Zahia Boucherit-Otmani2Abdeselem Benahmed3Laboratory of Antibiotics Antifungals, Physico-Chemical, Synthesis and Biological Activity, Department of Biology, Tlemcen University, Tlemcen 13000, AlgeriaLaboratory of Antibiotics Antifungals, Physico-Chemical, Synthesis and Biological Activity, Department of Biology, Tlemcen University, Tlemcen 13000, AlgeriaLaboratory of Antibiotics Antifungals, Physico-Chemical, Synthesis and Biological Activity, Department of Biology, Tlemcen University, Tlemcen 13000, AlgeriaLaboratory of Antibiotics Antifungals, Physico-Chemical, Synthesis and Biological Activity, Department of Biology, Tlemcen University, Tlemcen 13000, AlgeriaBackground: The tongue microbiome represents an important reservoir of pathogens, indicating an established risk for infections.The purpose of this study was to identify the tongue microbiota in subjects with and without oral diseases and compare oral health status between sexes. Methods: The sample consisted of 92 subjects, divided into the following groups: 17 xerostomia patients, 21 periodontitis patients, 22 gingivitis patients, 14 patients with caries, and 18 control participants. Samples were collected from the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the tongue for each subject. Microbial strains were identified using API and Vitek2. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the detection of microorganisms between the two surfaces of the tongue (p= 0.706).The major isolated bacterial species from the tongue samples was Staphylococcus aureus (13% in xerostomia, 13% in gingivitis, 16% in periodontitis, 18% in caries and 24% in healthy subjects). While the most common fungal species was Candida albicans (39% in xerostomia,36% in gingivitis,18% in periodontitis, 25% in caries and 21% in healthy subjects).The distribution of yeast and bacteria varied between groups for certain species but was similar for other species. Moreover, there was a difference in susceptibility to oral diseases between males and females (p= 0.014). Conclusions: This study confirms the richness of the tongue in a variety of bacteria and fungi species in all groups and highlights the difference in susceptibility to oral diseases between sexes.https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/article_397192_9820c22177f579105e23a5f8bfa81f10.pdfbacteriafungiinfectionsoral diseasestongue microbiome
spellingShingle Hafsa Lakhal
Abdelfettah Seghir
Zahia Boucherit-Otmani
Abdeselem Benahmed
The tongue microbiome in healthy subjects and patients with oral diseases: The first study in Algeria
Microbes and Infectious Diseases
bacteria
fungi
infections
oral diseases
tongue microbiome
title The tongue microbiome in healthy subjects and patients with oral diseases: The first study in Algeria
title_full The tongue microbiome in healthy subjects and patients with oral diseases: The first study in Algeria
title_fullStr The tongue microbiome in healthy subjects and patients with oral diseases: The first study in Algeria
title_full_unstemmed The tongue microbiome in healthy subjects and patients with oral diseases: The first study in Algeria
title_short The tongue microbiome in healthy subjects and patients with oral diseases: The first study in Algeria
title_sort tongue microbiome in healthy subjects and patients with oral diseases the first study in algeria
topic bacteria
fungi
infections
oral diseases
tongue microbiome
url https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/article_397192_9820c22177f579105e23a5f8bfa81f10.pdf
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