Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Aggregatibacter aphrophilus in a Kenyan Maasai Adolescent Population and Inhibition of Leukotoxic Activity by Herbal Plants Used as Part of Oral Hygiene Procedures

Mark Lindholm; Rolf Claesson; Arthur Kemoli; Tonnie Mulli; Jan Oscarsson; Dorte Haubek; Anders Johansson

doi:10.3390/jcm10225402

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Aggregatibacter aphrophilus in a Kenyan Maasai Adolescent Population and Inhibition of Leukotoxic Activity by Herbal Plants Used as Part of Oral Hygiene Procedures

J Clin Med. 2021 Nov 19;10(22):5402. doi: 10.3390/jcm10225402.

Authors

Mark Lindholm¹, Rolf Claesson¹, Arthur Kemoli², Tonnie Mulli³, Jan Oscarsson¹, Dorte Haubek⁴, Anders Johansson¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Odontology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
² Department of Paediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 00100, Kenya.
³ Department of Periodontology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 00100, Kenya.
⁴ Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Health, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark.

Abstract

Background: A virulent genotype (JP2) of the periodonto-pathogen, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), is widespread in North and West Africa, while its presence in East Africa has not been thoroughly investigated. This JP2 genotype is associated with periodontitis in adolescents and has a high leukotoxicity. The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of Aa and its JP2 genotype, the prevalence of the oral, commensal Aggregatibacter aphrophilus in a Maasai adolescent population, and the effect of herbal plants for inhibition of leukotoxicity.

Methods: A total of 284 adolescents from Maasai Mara, Kenya, underwent an oral examination and microbial sampling. The presence of Aa and A. aphrophilus was analyzed by quantitative PCR and cultivation (the 58 samples collected at the last day of field study). The collected Aa strains were characterized and leukotoxin promoter typed. Additionally, herbal plants commonly used for oral hygiene were assessed for the inhibition of leukotoxicity.

Results and conclusions: The prevalence of Aa in stimulated whole saliva was high (71.8%), with the JP2 genotype detected in one individual, and A. aphrophilus in 99% of the sampled individuals. The commonly used herbal plant, Warburgia ugandensis, inactivated Aa leukotoxicity. The Aa virulence might be reduced through use of W. ugandensis and the high levels of A. aphrophilus.

Keywords: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans; Aggregatibacter aphrophilus; Maasai adolescents; herbal plants; leukotoxicity.