A Comparative Study on an Anaerobic Oral Microbiota among Autistic and Non-autistic Children

Aim: An evidence suggests that microbiota plays an important role in health and diseases. Studies also suggested that microbiota may be different in children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than typically developing children. The aim of the study was to examine the oral bacterial strain/s commonly found in children with autism.

Study Design: Forty-three (43) children with ASD and forty-three (43) non-autistic children from the same age group were recruited from one of the autistic society in Malaysia from three centres in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

Results: Total eighty- six oral samples were tested using biochemical tests from autistic and non-autistic individuals. Eleven different bacterial species were identified. Actinomyces naeslundii was found in eight autistic samples whereas Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas gingivalis were not detected in any of the samples.

Conclusion: The study found that Actinomyces naeslundii was significantly present in autistic group.