Periodontal abscess is an oral infective disease caused by various kinds of bacteria. We aimed to characterize the microbiota composition of
periodontal abscesses by metagenomic methods and compare it to that of the corresponding pocket and healthy gingival crevice to investigate the specific bacteria associated with this disease. Samples from
abscess pus (AB),
periodontal pocket coronally above the
abscess (PO), and the gingival crevice of the periodontal healthy tooth were obtained from 20
periodontal abscess patients. Furthermore, healthy gingival crevice samples were obtained from 25 healthy individuals.
Bacterial DNA was extracted and
16S rRNA gene fragments were sequenced to characterize the microbiota and determine taxonomic classification. The beta-diversity analysis results showed that the AB and PO groups had similar compositions. Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and other Prevotella spp. were the predominant bacteria of human
periodontal abscesses. The abundances of Filifactor alocis and Atopobium rimae were significantly higher in
periodontal abscesses than in the
periodontal pocket, suggesting their association with
periodontal abscess formation. In conclusion, we characterized the microbiota in
periodontal abscess and identified some species that are positively associated with this disease. This provides a better understanding of the components of
periodontal abscesses, which will help facilitate the development of
antibiotic therapy strategies.