Arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) is a useful method for distinguishing between bacterial species and strains. Objectives: In order to characterize between species and serotypes of mutans streptococci isolates, we performed AP-PCR. Methods:Thirty-seven strains of mutans streptococci isolated from saliva and eight laboratory standard strains representing serotypes c, f, d and g were used. Each strain was cultured in BHI broth. DNA was isolated by a modification of the method of Beaudoin et al.. PCR was carried out in 25 ml containing dNTPs, DNA, KOD Dash and primer (degenerate(D)-RAPD primers, M-2,3,4 and 5 were tested). The amplification products were electrophoresed on 1.5% agarose gel and detected by ethidium bromide staining. Results: Primers M-3 and M-5 were suitable for distinguishing between S. mutans and S. sobrinus species and also primer M-5 discriminated between serotypes d and g. The isolates from single individuals and from different indivivuals yieled similar AP-PCR profiles. Almost all isolates were AP-PCR typed as S. mutans (serotype c/f). Conclusions: These results indicate that S. mutans is more prevalent than S. sobrinus and that AP-PCR with D-RAPD primers is a useful method for epidemiological studies on mutans streptococci.

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