Background: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a major pathogen in aggressive periodontitis. Our objectives were to determine the periodontal status and occurrence of A. actinomycetemcomitans in family members of subjects with A. actinomycetemcomitanspositive aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and to evaluate the probability of its intrafamilial transmission.Methods: Of the 300 subjects screened, 66 (22%) had AgP and A. actinomycetemcomitans. Eleven (probands) of these 66 subjects with AgP met the strict inclusion criteria for the study. The study population consisted of 55 subjects, including probands and their family members (N = 44). Two family groups were formed according to whether the proband was a child (N = 7) or a parent (N = 4). Subgingival samples from all subjects were cultured for A. actinomycetemcomitans, and its clonal types were determined by combining serotype and genotype data for each isolate.Results: Among 42 dentate family members, 16 (38%) exhibited periodontitis and eight (50%) had AgP. Periodontitis was found in nine of 12 (75%) of the dentate parents and six of 17 (35%) siblings of the child probands. A. actinomycetemcomitans was detected in 16 of 31 (52%) family members, i.e., one parent and at least one sibling in six families. The child probands shared A. actinomycetemcomitans clonal types with their parents in five of six (83%) families and with their siblings in three of six (50%) families. In the four parent-proband families, A. actinomycetemcomitans occurred in two spouses and all nine children. The parent probands shared A. actinomycetemcomitans clonal types with their spouses in both families and with their children in three of four families. In all families, the likelihood of intrafamilial transmission of A. actinomycetemcomitans was statistically significant. Members of most families (eight of 11, 73%) also harbored additional clonal types of A. actinomycetemcomitans.Conclusion: Parents and siblings of an individual with A. actinomycetemcomitans-positive AgP may have an increased susceptibility to periodontitis and shared and/or other clonal types of oral A. actinomycetemcomitans. J Periodontol 2008;79:307-315.

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro antimicrobial activity of 4 antibiotic agents (for E.faecalis) and 4 antifungal agents (for C.albicans) by agar dilution method. Additionally, modified strip diffusion method was used for detection of in vitro antimicrobial activities of 5% NaOCl, 2.5% NaOCl, 17% EDTA and 2% CHX and agar diffusion method for detection of in vitro susceptibilities of three intracanal medicaments for 18 E.faecalis and 18 C.albicans isolates from primary and secondary root canal infection. Isolates were recovered from 231 endodontic samples of patients, with the need of root canal treatment and retreatment. All tested E.faecalis isolates showed resistance to antibiotics. For irrigation solutions, 2% CHX was more effective in eliminating E.faecalis but 5% NaOCl showed larger inhibition zone than 2.5% NaOCl, 17% EDTA and 2% CHX. For intracanal medication, Ca(OH)2-CHX worked efficiently in killing E.faecalis isolates compared to Ca(OH)2-Steril saline solution, Ca(OH)2-Glycerin. For C.albicans, 18 isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, nistatin, fluconazole but showed resistance to ketoconazole. 5% NaOCl was more effective in eliminating and produced larger inhibition zone compared to 2.5% NaOCl, 17% EDTA and 2% CHX. Ca(OH)2-Glycerin intracanal medication was better in eliminating C.albicans isolates and produced larger inhibition zone compared to other Ca(OH)2 medicaments. Key words:E.faecalis, C.albicans, antimicrobial, antibiotic, antifungal.

The aim of this investigation was to examine the presence of 8 bacterial anaerobic species in endodontic samples from patients with primary and secondary infection. The association of clinical signs and symptoms with constituent species were also evaluated. Microbial samples were obtained from 72 teeth with primary endodontic infection and 35 teeth with secondary endodontic infection. DNA was extracted from samples and analyzed with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based identification assay. Medical and dental histories were obtained from each patient. The prevalence of the targeted bacterial species was recorded for each case and descriptive statistical analyses were performed using the Pearson Chi-squared test. Nucleid acid amplification method (NAAM) analysis showed that all specimens were positive at least for 1 or more samples in primary and secondary infection teeth. The most frequently detected bacteria in all speciemens were Porphyromonas gingivalis, followed by Porphyromonas micros, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas intermedia and Tannerella forsythia, respectively. The percentages of all selected bacteria found in primary infection group were higher than secondary infection group except for Porphyromonas intermedia. However, statistically significant difference was found only for T. forsythia and F. nucleatum which were higher percentage in primary infection than in secondary infection group. There was a significant association between tenderness to percussion and P. gingivalis (p < 0.05), pain with Porphyromonas melaninogenica (p < 0.05) and swelling with both P. gingivalis (p < 0.05) and P. melaninogenica (p < 0.05). Findings indicated that the prevalence of some species found in the primary infection group were higher than in the secondary infection group. In this study there was a significant association between tenderness to percussion and P. gingivalis, pain with P. melaninogenica and swelling with both P. gingivalis and P. melaninogenica.