Characterization of A. actinomycetemcomitans strains in subgingival samples from XXXX subjects in Morocco.

@entity1 @entity39300 @entity2521 @entity1129 @entity3841
OBJECTIVE: @entity3841 , specially its highly leucotoxic strain ( @entity39300 clone), represents an etiological factor for the onset and progression of aggressive types of @entity2521 . The aims of this investigation were to investigate the most relevant periodontal pathogens in the subgingival microbiota of @entity2521 @entity1 from Morocco and to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of subjects positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans, including serotype, leukotoxin gene, and operon of the cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) distribution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In consecutive Moroccan subjects diagnosed of @entity2521 , subgingival samples were taken and processed by culture. From the positive samples for A. actinomycetemcomitans, one to three isolates were subcultured and characterized by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), assessing their specific serotype distribution, the variation in the sequences of the leukotoxin gene, and the operon of the cdt. RESULTS: Twenty-one (35.6  %) out of 59 @entity2521 @entity1 @entity1129 . These @entity1 demonstrated statistically significant deeper pockets (p   =   0.035) and higher proportions of P. micra (p   =   0.045) than did the negative group. The 39 studied isolates were serotype "b"; in 16 out of 17 @entity1 , there was mono-colonization with this serotype. Five isolates, from two @entity1 , presented the 530-bp deletion in the leukotoxin's promoter region. Thirty-two isolates (78  % of the strains) were cdt-positive. CONCLUSION: A. actinomycetemcomitans was frequently found (35.6  %) in our sample. All strains were serotype "b," and most (78  %) were also cdt-positive. The @entity39300 strain type was only detected in 12.2  % of the strains. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A. actinomycetemcomitans can be frequently found in Morocco. This fact can influence the therapeutic approach of this type of @entity1 .
