title: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in Down's syndrome children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) in Down's syndrome (DS) children in comparison with age-matched normal children and to determine if Aa was acquired during childhood in DS individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 DS children and 60 healthy children participated in this cross-sectional study. Both groups were matched regarding gender and age and were equally selected from public schools/non-fee paying centers and private schools. Subgingival plaque sample were obtained and analyzed for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). Traditional cultivation method was used on a selective medium "modified malachite green vancomycin agar "
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher percentage ofDS children had Aa in their subgingival plaque compared to their healthy counterparts (Chi square = 8.78, p = 0.003). Although Aa was acquired by children as early as 5 years of age in both groups, no association was found between the occurrence of Aa and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher proportion ofDS children acquired Aa compared to their healthy controls and Aa is acquired by children as early as 5 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Alexandria, Egypt. ahussini@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Azza A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El Housseiny
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003470:Culture Media; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media