Abstract
Aim
The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of unstimulated saliva in detecting Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and its JP2 genotype, and to compare the saliva, subgingival and mucosa membrane occurrence of this periopathogen in patients diagnosed with advanced periodontitis.
Materials and Methods
One hundred and fifty-six patients (mean age: 54.03 ± 03 years) with advanced forms of periodontitis (stage-III/IV) were sampled. Unstimulated saliva, buccal cheek mucosa and pooled subgingival plaque samples were collected. Identification of A. actinomycetemcomitans and its JP2 genotype was performed using polymerase chain reaction. A descriptive analysis and chi-square test evaluation were performed.
Results
A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated from 32% of the subjects. A total of 468 samples were obtained, 156 from unstimulated saliva, buccal cheek mucosa surfaces, and pooled subgingival plaque samples. A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated from 23.07% of unstimulated saliva samples, 19.87% of buccal cheek swab samples, and 17.30% of subgingival samples. The total 468 samples were negative for the JP2 genotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans in this cohort of patients.
Conclusions
These results suggest that in advanced periodontitis, unstimulated saliva is representative of pooled subgingival plaque/buccal cheek samples and its use is adequate in the oral detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans in a cohort of patients with stage-III and IV periodontitis.
Clinical Relevance:
Data related to the oral colonization of periopthogens can be crucial to the diagnosis, vaccination, maintenance, and treatment of advanced forms of periodontitis. A. actinomycetemcomitans is a key periopathogen implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. In the presence of inflammation, advanced bone loss and deep periodontal pocketing, saliva samples seem to be an effective and conservative alternative to other methods of sampling in detecting the presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans.