Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans serotypes infections and periodontal conditions: a two-way assessment

This study investigated a large population of individuals positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans and performed a two way analysis assessing the relation between the different serotypes of the bacterium and periodontal conditions. The serotypes analysis (serotypes a, b, c, d, e, f) showed that out of the 204 selected individuals positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans, 152 were positive for a single serotype, 27 showed a variable mixed infection and 25 individuals were not positive for any of the serotypes tested. Serotypes a, b and c were largely found (98%), and serotype c was the most prevalent. Serotypes d, e, and f were either not detected or relatively rare. It was also verified that in non-periodontitis individuals, serotypes a and c were more prevalent (p < 0.05); in individuals with mild or moderate/severe chronic periodontitis serotype c was also more common (p < 0.05); and aggressive periodontitis subjects showed high prevalence of both serotypes b and c (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our study showed that serotype c was the most prevalent in both diseased and healthy subjects. Aggressive periodontitis subjects were not exclusively associated with A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype b. Non-typeable strains were either not detected or were relatively infrequent, and serotypes d and f were not detected in the examined Brazilian population.