DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2018.v05i03.010

Pages: 161-166

The oral ecosystem consists of polymorphic flora with bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Conventional methods of identification have shown their limitations related to the complexity of the protocols. The mass spectrometry system for identifying microorganisms via their protein is an alternative to these difficulties. The objective of this work was to assess the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry use in bacteriological identification of the oral microbiota. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study over a period of 3 months and on a sample of 25 patients aged 20 to 76 years. Then one hundred samples of subgingival biofilm and 25 swabs were made at the Clinic of periodontology of the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar and then transported and analyzed at the microbiological laboratory of Hôpital principal de Dakar. The periodontal examination showed a prevalence of 44% for periodontitis and 56% of cases of dental plaque-induced gingivitis. Culture and identification of colonies by MALDI-TOF has isolated a total of 43 bacterial species including 33 optional aero-anaerobic, 06 anaerobic and 04 aerobic. The speed and reliability of MALDI-TOF make it an innovative identification technique in periodontology to optimize patient management. However, other studies with more structured methodological qualities are necessary