Bacterial adhesion of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotypes to titanium implants: SEM evaluation. A preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
In this study, the adherence ability of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotypes to titanium implant surfaces was evaluated to demonstrate if any selective adherence occurs according to the serotypes of the microorganism.


METHODS
The study material included 3 reference strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes a, b, and c (ATCC 29523, ATCC 43718, ATCC 33384) and 2 clinical isolates of A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes d and e (IDH 781, IDH 1705), together with commercially available titanium blade implants. For each strain, bacterial suspensions with identical concentrations (5 x 10(7) cells/ml) were prepared and 0.5 ml of each was added on to the implant surfaces, which had been precoated with glycine-bovine serum albumin (BSA). After incubation at 37 degrees C for 60 minutes in 5% CO2 in air, the implants with attached bacteria were prepared for scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations. Bacterial adhesion was quantified on the textured body surfaces of the implants, and results were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance followed by Duncan's test. The surface ultrastructure of the bacterial cells was also evaluated descriptively.


RESULTS
The tested strains adhered to implant surfaces in different quantities. Serotype a (ATCC 29523) showed the highest adherence affinity (statistically significant, P <0.01). When compared with each other, serotypes b, c, and d (ATCC 43718, ATCC 33384, and IDH 781) attached equally well, whereas serotype e (IDH 1705) had a statistically significant low adherence capability.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that in vitro A. actinomycetemcomitans adhesion to implant surfaces is strain dependent.
Okte
E
E
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. okte@tr-net.net.tr
Sultan
N
N
Doğan
B
B
Asikainen
S
S
D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001751:Blade Implantation; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000382:microbiology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013045:Species Specificity
D015921:Dental Implants