Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Filifactor alocis as Associated with Periodontal Attachment Loss in a Cohort of Ghanaian Adolescents
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Microorganisms
Abstract
The aims of the present study were to document the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomyctemcomitans and the emerging oral pathogen Filifactor alocis, as well as to identify genotypes of
these bacterial species with enhanced virulence. In addition, these data were analyzed in relation
to periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and the progression of PPD from the sampled periodontal sites
during a two-year period. Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 172 periodontal pockets of
68 Ghanaian adolescents. PPD at sampling varied from 3–14 mm and the progression from baseline,
i.e., two years earlier up to 8 mm. The levels of A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. alocis were determined
with quantitative PCR. The highly leukotoxic JP2-genotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans and the ftxA a
gene of F. alocis, encoding a putative Repeats-in-Toxin (RTX) protein, were detected with conventional
PCR. The prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans was 57%, and 14% of the samples contained the
JP2 genotype. F. alocis was detected in 92% of the samples and the ftxA gene in 52%. The levels of
these bacterial species were significantly associated with enhanced PPD and progression, with a more
pronounced impact in sites positive for the JP2 genotype or the ftxA gene. Taken together, the results
indicate that the presence of both A. actinomycetemcomitans and Falocis with their RTX proteins are
linked to increased PPD and progression of disease.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
periodontitis, adolescents, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Filifactor alocis
Citation
Citation: Razooqi, Z.; Höglund Åberg, C.; Kwamin, F.; Claesson, R.; Haubek, D.; Oscarsson, J.; Johansson, A. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Filifactor alocis as Associated with Periodontal Attachment Loss in a Cohort of Ghanaian Adolescents. Microorganisms 2022, 10, 2511. https://doi.org/10.3390/ microorganisms10122511