Abstract
A total of five bacteriological samples from the periodontal pockets of two sisters with localized juvenile periodontitis and their mother with advanced periodontitis was studied. Gram-negative anaerobic rods were predominant in the samples. Bacteroides intermedius and Bacteroides loescheii were the most predominant species. The antigenicity and bacteriocinogenicity of these isolates were quite similar. Serum immunoglobulin G antibody levels of the subjects to gram-negative periodontopathic bacteria were measured by using the micro-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of antibodies to saccharolytic black-pigmented Bacteroides species were significantly higher than the levels in healthy young females.