title: Molecular detection of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival plaque of healthy young children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in subgingival plaque of healthy young children aged between 3 and 15 years using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and to compare their presence in children in their primary, mixed and permanent dentitions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 120 healthy children and were grouped as Group I-Deciduous dentition, Group II- Mixed dentition and Group III- Permanent dentition, and were subjected to PCR assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Binomial test and Proportions test were used for statistical analysis. A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis were detected in 5% and 35%, 12.5% and 20%, and 0% and 27.5% samples in group I, II and III respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the microorganisms were present in group I and II. In group III only P. gingivalis was present. The results from this study do not necessarily pertain to differences in dentition but possibly to inter-individual differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Vlachery Main Road, Chennai - 600100.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arangannal
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Nallasivam
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vijayaprabha
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vishnurekha
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeevarathan
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Hariharan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahalakshmi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Padmavathy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial