Redondovirius-associated Periodontitis in People with Poor Oral Hygiene

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of recently emerged members of the Redondoviridae family (ReDoVs) in individuals with periodontitis and their association with underlying diseases. Materials and Methods This case-control study involved 230 participants, 115 with chronic periodontitis and 115 healthy controls from October 2023 to May 2024. Demographic, health-related, and behavioral data were collected. Gingival samples were analyzed for ReDoVs using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results ReDoVs were detected in 51.30% of the periodontitis case group and 21.74% of the control group ( p  < 0.0001). ReDoV presence was associated with older age, lack of teeth brushing habits, and smoking history ( p  < 0.05). Also, a higher occurrence of underlying diseases was observed among participants with periodontitis (24.35%) compared to controls (4.35%). An association was observed between ReDoVs and diabetes (OR = 9.18, 95% CI: 1.48 to 56.98, p  = 0.02). Conclusions ReDoVs and periodontitis were associated with adults with poor dental hygiene and those with diabetes. This supports a possible multifactorial and complex interaction between the presence of ReDoVs, periodontitis, and diabetes. We further update the message of our previous study by highlighting that poor oral hygiene increases the risk of ReDoV presence. Clinical Relevance: ReDoVs were significantly higher in individuals with periodontitis, with a strong correlation between ReDoVs and periodontitis, especially in diabetic patients. This could lead to improved periodontal treatments focusing on bacterial factors and addressing viral contributions, potentially reducing the burden of periodontal disease and its associated complications.