DNA virus tropism in healthy dental pulp: an in-situ reservoir site for torque teno virus and parvovirus B19

Background The presence of viruses in healthy teeth has not been extensively studied, although some viral traces have been detected in both healthy and diseased dental pulps in previous studies focusing primarily on a single species. The aim of this study is to clarify the persistence of DNA viruses...

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Main Authors: O. I. Mielonen, S. Hänninen, J. Willberg, T. Salo, M. Mauramo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Journal of Oral Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20002297.2025.2499924
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author O. I. Mielonen
S. Hänninen
J. Willberg
T. Salo
M. Mauramo
author_facet O. I. Mielonen
S. Hänninen
J. Willberg
T. Salo
M. Mauramo
author_sort O. I. Mielonen
collection DOAJ
description Background The presence of viruses in healthy teeth has not been extensively studied, although some viral traces have been detected in both healthy and diseased dental pulps in previous studies focusing primarily on a single species. The aim of this study is to clarify the persistence of DNA viruses in dental tissues and their impact on tissue composition.Materials and Methods Here, the prevalence of persistent DNA viruses in intact third molars (n = 17) was assessed via quantitative PCR to detect human parvovirus B19 (B19V), torque teno virus (TTV) and nine human herpesviruses. Also, H&E-stained tissue sections of the samples were analyzed for any potential inflammatory process. RNAscope in-situ hybridization was performed for B19V, TTV and HHV7 subsequently.Results Viral DNA of five different viruses was detected in 5 of the 17 samples (29.4%) including B19V (n = 2), TTV (n = 2), HHV7 (n = 2), HCMV (n = 1) or EBV (n = 1) in dental pulps with no signs of cytopathic effect, inflammatory cell accumulations or necrosis. RNAscope in-situ hybridization confirmed the presence of B19V and TTV in non-inflamed pulp tissue.Conclusions These findings emphasized that even in the absence of a disease evaluated by histology, dental pulp can harbor DNA viruses and be an anatomical site of virus tropism, suggesting viral persistence rather than direct pathogenic activity.
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spelling doaj-art-6ad9b5855df84d0f97bea519e8ead6382025-08-20T02:56:39ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Oral Microbiology2000-22972025-12-0117110.1080/20002297.2025.2499924DNA virus tropism in healthy dental pulp: an in-situ reservoir site for torque teno virus and parvovirus B19O. I. Mielonen0S. Hänninen1J. Willberg2T. Salo3M. Mauramo4Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Pathology, Research Program in Systems Oncology, Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, FinlandBackground The presence of viruses in healthy teeth has not been extensively studied, although some viral traces have been detected in both healthy and diseased dental pulps in previous studies focusing primarily on a single species. The aim of this study is to clarify the persistence of DNA viruses in dental tissues and their impact on tissue composition.Materials and Methods Here, the prevalence of persistent DNA viruses in intact third molars (n = 17) was assessed via quantitative PCR to detect human parvovirus B19 (B19V), torque teno virus (TTV) and nine human herpesviruses. Also, H&E-stained tissue sections of the samples were analyzed for any potential inflammatory process. RNAscope in-situ hybridization was performed for B19V, TTV and HHV7 subsequently.Results Viral DNA of five different viruses was detected in 5 of the 17 samples (29.4%) including B19V (n = 2), TTV (n = 2), HHV7 (n = 2), HCMV (n = 1) or EBV (n = 1) in dental pulps with no signs of cytopathic effect, inflammatory cell accumulations or necrosis. RNAscope in-situ hybridization confirmed the presence of B19V and TTV in non-inflamed pulp tissue.Conclusions These findings emphasized that even in the absence of a disease evaluated by histology, dental pulp can harbor DNA viruses and be an anatomical site of virus tropism, suggesting viral persistence rather than direct pathogenic activity.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20002297.2025.2499924VirologyDNA virusesodontologyhuman hard tissueqPCRTechnovit® 9100
spellingShingle O. I. Mielonen
S. Hänninen
J. Willberg
T. Salo
M. Mauramo
DNA virus tropism in healthy dental pulp: an in-situ reservoir site for torque teno virus and parvovirus B19
Journal of Oral Microbiology
Virology
DNA viruses
odontology
human hard tissue
qPCR
Technovit® 9100
title DNA virus tropism in healthy dental pulp: an in-situ reservoir site for torque teno virus and parvovirus B19
title_full DNA virus tropism in healthy dental pulp: an in-situ reservoir site for torque teno virus and parvovirus B19
title_fullStr DNA virus tropism in healthy dental pulp: an in-situ reservoir site for torque teno virus and parvovirus B19
title_full_unstemmed DNA virus tropism in healthy dental pulp: an in-situ reservoir site for torque teno virus and parvovirus B19
title_short DNA virus tropism in healthy dental pulp: an in-situ reservoir site for torque teno virus and parvovirus B19
title_sort dna virus tropism in healthy dental pulp an in situ reservoir site for torque teno virus and parvovirus b19
topic Virology
DNA viruses
odontology
human hard tissue
qPCR
Technovit® 9100
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20002297.2025.2499924
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