Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans JP2 Genotype in African Americans With Localized Aggressive Periodontitis

Objectives: Previous studies have provided substantial evidence on the association of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and its highly leukotoxic JP2 genotype, with the presentation of localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP). The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence of the JP2 sequence in LAP individuals following periodontal treatment.
Methods: Sixty African American LAP patients between ages 5 and 25 years were examined. At baseline, pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BoP) and plaque index (PI) were measured and subgingival plaque was collected from both LAP diseased sites and healthy sites for each participant. Patients received whole-mouth ultrasonic debridement, scaling and root planing and a 7-day prescription of amoxicillin and metronidazole. Participants were re-evaluated, re-sampled and received maintenance therapy at 3, 6 and 12-months post-treatment. PCR technique was used detect presence of the JP2 genotype before and after treatment.
Results: At baseline, the JP2 sequence was identified in 75.00% of LAP diseased sites and in 56.67% of healthy sites. At 3, 6 and 12-months post-treatment, patient compliance was 40, 31 and 31 respectively. Correspondingly, JP2 detection decreased to 17.50%, 6.45% and 3.23% in diseased sites (P<0.001) and to 2.50%, 3.23% and 0.00% in healthy sites (P<0.001). The clinical parameters of disease were also significantly reduced after therapy (p<0001), and equally significant correlations were observed between JP2 presence and both mean PD (p < 0.002) and mean CAL (p < 0.001), post-therapy.
Conclusions: Periodontal therapy was successful in reducing the clinical parameters of LAP and the subgingival presence of the JP2 genotype in diseased and healthy sites of LAP patients.