The effect of the iron‐containing substances hemoglobin (Hb) and ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) on the virulence of a strain of Streptococcus sanguis, Actinomyces viscosus, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, and 2 strains of Bacteroides gingivalis was studied in a guinea‐pig model. The results showed that the addition of Hb or FAC had no effect on the virulence of S. sanguis. However, the addition of Hb but not FAC had an enhancing effect on the virulence of A. viscosus and B. gingivalis. The addition of FAC but not Hb enhanced the virulence of A. actinomycetemcomitans. This study, suggests that the virulence of periodontopathic bacteria could be dependent upon the nature of the iron compound in the host medium.
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