Evaluation of Oral Bacterial Diversity, ABO/Rh Blood Group Distribution, and Dental Caries Severity in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

A Case-Control Study

Authors

  • Ruaa K. Mohammed Jawad
  • Tuqa Z. Omran
  • Zahraa Abbas Ouda AlEbrahemi
  • Hasan Ali Alsailawi
  • Mustafa Mudhafar Center for Environmental and Renewable Energy Research, University of Kerbala, 56001, Karbala, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/d3000.2026.1544

Keywords:

Dental Caries, Diabetes Mellitus, Oral Microbiota, ABO Blood Group

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly alters oral physiology, predisposing patients to dysbiosis and increased severity of dental caries. This study aimed to evaluate the profile of salivary bacterial pathogens in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic controls, and to investigate potential correlations between ABO/Rh blood groups, bacterial colonization, and caries susceptibility. A case-control study was conducted involving 300 diabetic patients and an age- and sex-matched non-diabetic control group (n=100) in Karbala, Iraq. Salivary samples and blood samples were collected under aseptic conditions. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological culture methods, biochemical assays, and automated VITEK® 2 system analysis. ABO and Rh blood groups were determined using standard agglutination techniques. Statistical evaluation was performed using One-Way ANOVA and Chi-Square tests (p < 0.05). Salivary bacterial screening revealed a significantly higher prevalence of cariogenic and opportunistic pathogens in diabetic patients, specifically Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp., and Raoultella ornithinolytica. Blood group O was the most prevalent (33.3%), followed by group B (30.0%), group A (23.3%), and group AB (13.3%), with 92.7% being Rh-positive. Streptococcus mutans colony counts (CFU/mL) were highest among individuals with blood group A, followed by group AB, though overall variations across blood types did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.59). Diabetic patients harbor a diverse array of acidogenic and opportunistic oral bacteria. While blood group antigen distribution showed specific prevalence trends, further large-scale multi-center clinical trials are warranted to clarify the mechanistic link between ABO secretor status and cariogenic microbial adherence.

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Published

2026-09-10

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Infancy & Adolescence

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Ruaa K. Mohammed Jawad, Tuqa Z. Omran, Zahraa Abbas Ouda AlEbrahemi, Hasan Ali Alsailawi, Mustafa Mudhafar

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