Isolation and genotyping of black-pigmented anaerobes from periodontal sites of HIV-positive and non-infected subjects in Thailand.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND, AIMS: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of periodontitis, the prevalence of black-pigmented anaerobes and the genotypes of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia present in HIV-infected and control subjects in a heterosexual Thai population. METHOD: 50 AIDS patients and 50 control subjects were included in the study. Their periodontal condition was examined by assessment of bleeding on probing, attachment loss and probing depth, and presence of erythema around 6 teeth (16, 21, 24, 36, 41, 44). Subgingival plaque was collected from the mesiobuccal sites of these teeth and was cultured anaerobically for black-pigmented bacteria. Species were characterised using biochemical profiles and total protein profiles. Genotyping of each isolate was performed using PCR techniques. RESULTS: There was little clinical evidence of HIV-associated periodontitis in the HIV-positive subjects and no difference was found in the prevalence or genotype distribution of black-pigmented anaerobes between HIV-infected and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest lack of severe periodontal destruction due to HIV-infection in Thailand and that these subjects are not colonised by more numerous or characteristic clones of certain putative periodontal pathogens.