Isolation and identification of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans bacteria by culturing and polymerase chain reaction methods in patients with chronic periodontitis

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans bacterium is a portion of the normal flora in healthy persons however it involves in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis. Present study aimed to isolate Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans bacteria and their cytolethal distending toxins from chronic periodontitis patients. Forty chronic periodontitis patients were incorporated in the study. From 2 sites with the deepest probing pocket depth, subgingival biofilm samples were gathered and transferred to laboratory for isolation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans bacteria by routine culture method. Also molecular isolation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans bacteria and cytolethal distending toxins using polymerase chain reaction technique were performed. Statistical analysis revealed that Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans amplicons present in (75%) of the patients and cytolethal distending toxins amplicons present in (70%) of the patients. Also amplicons of cytolethal distending toxin A were found in (35%) of the patients while amplicons of cytolethal distending toxin B were found in (55%) of the patients and amplicons of cytolethal distending toxin C were found in (65%) of the patients. As a conclusion, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans bacteria and their virulent factors have a considerable role in chronic periodontitis progression.