Association of Concurrent Oral Epstein–Barr Virus and Porphyromonas gingivalis Detection With Increased Periodontal Inflammatory Burden: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Aim This study investigated the associations of oral Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and Porphyromonas gingivalis with enlargement of periodontal inflamed areas in middle‐aged and older people. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 76 patients who visited Hiroshima University Hospital between April 2021 and June 2023. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction was conducted to detect EBV and P. gingivalis DNA using tongue swab samples. Periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) values were calculated to quantify the extent of periodontal inflammation at baseline and 12 months after baseline. Additionally, we examined the presence of EBV DNA using gingival crevicular fluid samples from 89 patients who visited Hiroshima University Hospital. Results Of the 76 participants, 25 (32.9%) were dual‐negative for EBV and P. gingivalis , 7 (9.2%) were EBV‐positive/ P. gingivalis‐ negative, 35 (46.1%) were EBV‐negative/ P. gingivalis‐ positive, and 9 (11.8%) were dual‐positive for EBV and P. gingivalis . The percentage of participants with ≥ 6‐mm periodontal pockets with bleeding on probing was higher at 12 months (44.4%) than at baseline (33.3%) in the EBV/ P. gingivalis dual‐positive group, but this difference was not significant. PISA values were significantly higher at 12 months (288 mm 2 ) than at baseline (95.3 mm 2 ) in EBV/ P. gingivalis dual‐positive participants ( p = 0.02). No significant change in PISA values was found at 12 months in the other groups. Of the 89 participants, seven patients (7.9%) were positive for EBV DNA. Conclusion The dual presence of oral EBV and P. gingivalis may be associated with enlargement of periodontal inflamed areas in middle‐aged and older people. Trial Registration: Not applicable