Antigenic Analysis of Actinomyces Species

Abstract

Patients with chronic periodontal inflammation frequently have a predominance of Actinomyces species in their lesions. For example, of the first four patients in a study by Williams et al. (8), three patients had a predominance of Actinomyces species at the subgingival sites. When the patients, all with six to eight mm pockets, were compared with age matched controls, the Actinomyces viscosus-naeslundii group of organisms were statistically more prominent than in the controls. Although we now realize that the current activity of periodontal destruction of tissues in these patients was not well characterized and that six to eight mm pockets do not necessarily mean active periodontal disease, nevertheless, Actinomyces were possible agents of inflammatory periodontal disease. In addition, Loesche (6) has shown that cessation of oral hygiene measures promptly results in gingivitis associated with an increase in numbers of Actinomyces in dental plaque.