The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 10, Issue 2 213-224, Copyright © 1977 by Society for General Microbiology
A sequential bacteriological and serological investigation of Rhesus monkeys immunised against dental caries with Streptococcus mutans
J. Caldwell, S. J. Challacombe and T. Lehner
In a serial investigation of the effects of immunisation with S. mutans in
rhesus monkeys maintained on a "human" type of cariogenic diet, the numbers
of S. mutans in cervical plaque, crevicular-fluid washings, fissures of
teeth, and in saliva were lower in immunised animals than in sham-immunised
controls. Immunisation also caused a delay in initial colonisation and a
slowing of the rate of colonisation with S. mutans. These bacteriological
changes were associated with a reduction in the smooth-surface-caries
score. No relationship was found between the presence of S. sanguis and
caries, but there was an inverse relationship between the proportions of S.
mutans and S. sanguis isolated. Increased titres of complement-fixing,
haemagglutinating and precipitating antibodies to S. mutans were found in
the sera of immunised but not of control monkeys. A significant increase in
salivary haemagglutinating antibodies was not detected. The results suggest
that immunisation with S. mutans causes an increase in serum antibodies and
a reduction in the number of S. mutans in the oral flora, and that these
are associated with a reduction in dental caries.
