title: Assessment of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in Down's syndrome subjects and systemically healthy subjects: A comparative clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare and quantify the presence of periodontal pathogens Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aac) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) in Down's syndrome (DS) and systemically healthy subjects with periodontitis and gingivitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nine age-matched subjects were categorized into four groups; Group I: DS subjects with gingivitis, Group II: DS subjects with periodontitis, Group III: Systemically healthy subjects with gingivitis and Group IV: Systemically healthy subjects with periodontitis. Plaque samples from all the four groups were collected and analyzed to evaluate the presence of Aac and Pg using real time polymerase chain reaction. The indices used were oral hygiene index simplified, community periodontal index for treatment needs and plaque index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed a statistically significant detection in the levels of both Aac (<0.001) and Pg (<0.001) in DS subjects with periodontitis when compared with the healthy controls with periodontitis; moreover, there was a statistically significant increase in Pg levels compared to Aac in DS gingivitis group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a statistically significant presence of Pg and Aac in both DS gingivitis and DS periodontitis over control groups with increased levels of Pg compared with Aac in DS gingivitis group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Thai Moogambigai Dental College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Nizar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, SRM Dental College, Ramapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Harinath
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Parthasarathy
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Thai Moogambigai Dental College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Thai Moogambigai Dental College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Dhayanand John
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Victor
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Thai Moogambigai Dental College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Thai Moogambigai Dental College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Siva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sankari
keywords: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis; Down's syndrome; chronic periodontitis; oral hygiene; subgingival microflora