Prevalence of Streptococcus mutans Serotypes, Actinomyces, and Other Bacteria in the Plaque of Children

Abstract

Selected microbial components in dental plaque were determined for children in Biddeford, Maine and Colombia, South America. Using cultural methods, Streptococcus mutans was detected in 51.4% of the Colombian children and 63.3% of the Maine children. Serotype c was predominant in both populations. The greatest difference between the two groups occurred with serotypes d and g which were present in 25% of the Colombian children with S. mutans and were not detected in the Maine children. In the specimens examined with specific FA conjugates, Actinomyces was the predominant genus, present in all individuals and comprising an average of 52% of all cells.