Taxon Description:
This species is known to be heterogeneous with micro-variation among 16S rRNA sequences including between operons within strains and phenotypic variation including colonial appearance [1].

Disease Associations:
Has been isolated from most types of oral infection. Is a particularly frequent isolate from acute dentoalveolar infections where it is often a member of the 15-20 species consortium associated with the condition. Has also been isolated from clinical specimens obtained from infections at other body sites primarily soft-tissue abscesses and bite wounds. These are primarily at sites above the diaphragm suggesting that the mouth is the primary habitat.

Prevalence and Source:
Parvimonas micra is a commonly found oral species and is isolated from dental plaque and the tongue in health and a variety of oral disease associated microbiota including periodontitis endodontic and dentoalveolar infections pericoronitis and advanced dental caries.