Periodontopathic bacteria in English HIV-seropositive persons

Selected periodontopathic bacteria were sought in 20 HIV-infected English p atients and eight noninfected control subjects with similar periodontal sta tus, using highly specific DNA probes. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A. a), Porphyromonas gingivalis, Campylobacter rectus, Prevotella interme dia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum were more frequently detected and were fou nd at higher levels in HIV-infected individuals than in controls. Significa ntly increased levels of Treponema denticola but, in contrast, lower levels of Eikenella corrodens were found in nonbleeding sites of HIV-infected pat ients compared with controls. The results of the present investigation on E nglish patients suggest a periodontopathogenic role for A. a, P. gingivalis and C. rectus, and possibly P. intermedia and are in general accord with m ost previously reported data from the United States. Longitudinal studies a re now required to determine more precisely the association between periodo ntopathic microflora, immune competence and periodontal health and disease in HIV-infected persons.