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
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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.
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