title: Evaluation of three selective media for isolation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a pathogen in oral and nonoral infections. Detection and quantification of this pathogen can be performed using selective culture techniques. The aim of this study was to establish the efficacy of two known selective media in their ability to select and support the growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trypticase soy bacitracin vancomycin (TSBV) medium and brain-heart infusion agar with vancomycin (Dentaid-1), as well as a modified Dentaid-1 medium (in which the brain-heart infusion agar was substituted with brain-heart infusion broth), were compared. Two-hundred and eighteen clinical samples were used to establish the recovery rate, the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) of A. actinomycetemcomitans as well as the total number of CFUs on the three different types of medium. In addition, the numbers of gram-negative aerobic rods and yeasts were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both types of Dentaid-1 medium showed a higher recovery of A. actinomycetemcomitans compared with TSBV. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance. The total number of CFUs of A. actinomycetemcomitans recovered was significantly higher on Dentaid-1 compared with TSBV (p = 0.029). The mean number of gram-negative aerobic rods recovered was statistically higher on both types of Dentaid-1 medium in comparison with TSBV. Low numbers of yeasts were recovered occasionally on all test plates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dentaid-1 is a low-cost effective alternative to TSBV for the isolation and growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans from clinical samples, such as dental plaque, which contain a complex microflora.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rurenga
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raangs
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Singadji
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wekema-Mulder
authors.forename: A C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Veloo
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Winkelhoff
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010520:Aggressive Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002364:Caseins / Q000737:chemistry; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000382:microbiology; D016946:Gram-Negative Aerobic Rods and Cocci / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates / Q000737:chemistry; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000737:chemistry; D015003:Yeasts / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002364:Caseins; D003470:Culture Media; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates; C026375:trypticase-soy broth; D014640:Vancomycin; D000362:Agar
keywords: Aggregatibacter actinomycemcomitans; culture; selective media