To study the correlation between coinfection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Porphyromonas gingivalis(Pg) and severity of maternal chronic periodontitis in pregnant women.

Saliva samples were collected from 36 pregnant women with chronic periodontitis and 36 pregnant women with healthy periodontal status. EBV was detected using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Pg was detected using 16S rRNA based PCR. Clinical periodontal indices were recorded through periodontal examination. Correlation between the coinfection and severity of maternal chronic periodontitis were analyzed.

The results showed no significant differences in prevalence of infection of EBV or Pg between pregnant women with chronic periodontitis and with healthy periodontal status (P＞0.05). Contemporaneously, coinfection prevalence of EBV and Pg showed significant differences between two groups (P = 0.028). Coinfection of EBV and Pg showed significant association with bleeding on probing index (BOP) (P =0.003). No significant associations were found between the coinfection and periodontal depth(PD) or clinical attachment loss (CAL) (P＞0.05).

Relationship between coinfection of EBV and Pg and maternal chronic periodontitis needs further investigation.