Bacterial DNA detected on pathologically changed heart valves using 16S rRNA gene amplification

Nowadays, dental diseases are one of the most common illnesses in the world. Some of them can lead to translocation of oral bacteria to the bloodstream causing intermittent bacteraemia. Therefore, a potential association between oral infection and cardiovascular diseases has been discussed in recent years as a result of adhesion of oral microbes to the heart valves. The aim of this study was to detect oral bacteria on pathologically changed heart valves not caused by infective endocarditis. In the study, patients with pathologically changed heart valves were involved. Samples of heart valves removed during heart valve replacement surgery were cut into two parts. One aliquot was cultivated aerobically and anaerobically. Bacterial DNA was extracted using Ultra-Deep Microbiome Prep (Molzym GmbH, Bremen, Germany) followed by a 16S rRNA gene PCR amplification using Mastermix 16S Complete kit (Molzym GmbH, Bremen, Germany). Positive PCR products were sequenced and the sequences were analyzed using BLAST database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih/BLAST). During the study period, 41 samples were processed. Bacterial DNA of the following bacteria was detected in 21 samples: Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) (n=11; 52.38% of patients with positive bacterial DNA detection), Staphylococcus sp. (n=9; 42.86%), Streptococcus sp. (n=1; 4.76%), Streptococcus sanguinis (n=4; 19.05%), Streptococcus oralis (n=1; 4.76%), Carnobacterium sp. (n=1; 4.76%), Bacillus sp. (n=2; 9.52%), and Bergeyella sp. (n=1; 4.76%). In nine samples, multiple bacteria were found. Our results showed significant appearance of bacteria on pathologically changed heart valves in patients with no symptoms of infective endocarditis.