An effect of communal caging on the streptococcal flora of the dental plaque of monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

Abstract

22 monkeys were randomly allocated to one or other of 2 communes and fed a caries-promoting high sucrose diet. After 28 weeks commune 1 (13 monkeys) was found to harbour Streptococcus mutans serotype e as the predominant streptococcal species, but no monkey in commune 2 harboured this serotype. Instead the 9 monkeys of commune 2 harboured Streptococcus mutans serotypes c and h and had a greater proportion of Streptococcus mitior and Streptococcus milleri in their dental plaque. The significance of these observations on the use of monkeys as a model of human dental caries is discussed. © 1982, Royal Society of Medicine Press. All rights reserved.