title: Prevalence and distribution of serotype-specific genotypes of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in chronic periodontitis Brazilian subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have suggested that Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is involved in the aetiology of aggressive periodontitis as well as chronic periodontitis. In addition, some authors have also reported that serotype-specific antigens of A. actinomycetemcomitans determine the severity of disease. This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans and the distribution of A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes in Brazilian subjects with chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 486 individuals were enrolled in this survey. All patients received clinical examinations that included periodontal pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, plaque, and gingival indexes. Subgingival samples were taken for microbial analysis. The genomic DNA of A. actinomycetemcomitans was provided by PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 486 subjects examined, A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated in 85 (17.5%) individuals. Out of 85 positive samples, 68 were infected by at least 1 serotype, 7 by mixed infection, and 10 were non-serotyped. Serotypes d and f were not detected. Serotype c showed the highest prevalence (52.9%), followed by serotype a (31.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intragroup analysis revealed that, in slight/moderate periodontitis, serotypes c and a were significantly more prevalent than serotypes b and d-f; the prevalence of serotype c in severe periodontitis was significantly greater than that of serotypes a and b. Our data were similar in Asian and Eurasian populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Dental Research Division, University of Taubaté, Rua Expedicionário Ernesto Pereira, 110, Taubaté 12020-330, SP, Brazil. ca.torres@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Caio Vinicius Gonçalves
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Roman-Torres
authors.forename: Davi Romeiro
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Aquino
authors.forename: Sheila Cavalca
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cortelli
authors.forename: Gilson Cesar Nobre
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Juliana Guimarães
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Priscila
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corraini
authors.forename: Marinella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holzhausen
authors.forename: Marina Gonçalves
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Ricardo Santiago
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cortelli
mesh_terms: D000189:Actinobacillus Infections / Q000145:classification*; D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D001938:Brazil; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology; D012703:Serotyping