Abstract
Two hundred ten S. pyogenes strains isolated in 1979, 1980 and 1984 from children with pharyngitis were here examined for properties which might be relevant to their rheumatogenic potential. Strains were first tested for the production of streptococcal serum-opacity factor and, among those scored as OF-negative, the presence was then verified of M types which have been epidemiologically related to rheumatic fever. Members of ≪rheumatogenic≫ M types are present among strains causing pharyngitis in children; which, however, also include a considerable proportion of OF-positive, probably non-rheumatogenic, strains. The results are discussed in the light of the low incidence of rheumatic fever in this country.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BisnoA.L. (1980): The concept of rheumatogenic and non rheumatogenic group A streptococci. In: Streptococcal Diseases and the Immune Response, Read S.E. and Zabriskie J.B., editors. New York, Academic Press, Inc., pp. 789–803.
BisnoA.L., BerriosX., QuesneyF., MonroeD.M.Jr., DaleJ.B. and BeacheyE.H. (1982): Type-specific antibodies to structurally defined fragments of streptococcal M proteins in patients with acute rheumatic fever. - Infect. Immun. 38: 573–579.
HallasG. and WiddowsonJ.P. (1982): The opacity factor of group-A streptococci. - J. Med. Microbiol. 15: 451–464.
MaxtedW.R. (1980): Disease association and geographical distribution of the M types of group A streptococci. In: Streptococcal Diseases and the Immune Response, Read S.E. and Zabriskie J.B., editors. New York, Academic Press, Inc., pp. 763–777.
MaxtedW.R., WiddowsonJ.P. and FraserC.A.M. (1973): Antibody to streptococcal opacity factor in human sera. - J. Hyg. Camb. 71: 35–42.
MartinD.R. and DickK.J. (1984): M-associated protein antibodies in patients with rheumatic fever.- J. Med. Microbiol. 17: 189–199.
MolinaA.M. and CalegariL. (1968): Serotypes of Streptococcus pyogenes in Italy between June 1964 and May 1965. - Boll. Ist. Sieroter. Milanese 47: 13–20.
Molina A.M. and Calegari L. (1978): Biologia e patogenicità dello Streptococcus pyogenes. - Atti VIII Congresso Nazionale A.M.O.I. pp. 139–181.
Molina A.M., Figura N. and Rossolini A.: E' lo Streptococcus pyogenes ancora un patogeno d'attualità?- Patologica (in press).
PotterE.V., SvartmanM., Poon-KingT. and EarleD.P. (1977): The families of patients with acute rheumatic fever or glomerulonephritis in Trinidad.- Am. J. Epidemiol. 106: 130–138.
PotterE.V., ShaughnessyM.A., Poon-KingT. and EarleD.P. (1982): Serum immunoglobulin A and antibody to M-associated protein in patients with acute glomerulonephritis or rheumatic fever. - Infect. Immun. 37: 227–234.
ReadS.E. and ZabriskieJ.B. (eds.) (1980): Streptococcal Diseases and the Immune Response. Academic Press, Inc., New York.
RottaJ. (1980): The rheumatic fever problem in some areas of the world. In: Streptococcal Diseases and the Immune Response, Read S.E. and Zabriskie J.B., editors. New York, Academic Press, Inc., pp. 751–761.
RottaJ., KrauseR.M., LancefieldR.C., EverlyW. and LacklandH. (1971): New approaches for the laboratory recognition of M types of group A streptococci. - J. Exp. Med. 134: 1298–1315.
WiddowsonJ.P. (1980): The M-associated protein antigens of group A streptococci. In: Streptococcal Diseases and the Immune Response, Read S.E. and Zabriskie J.B., editors. New York, Academic Press, Inc., pp. 125–147.
WiddowsonJ.P., MaxtedW.R. and PinneyA.M. (1976): Immunological heterogeneity among the M-associated protein antigens of group-A streptococci.- J. Med. Microbiol. 9: 73–88.
WiddowsonJ.P., MaxtedW.R., NotleyC.M. and PinneyA.M. (1974): The antibody responses in man to infection with different serotypes of group-A streptococci. - J. Med. Microbiol. 7: 483–496.
WilliamsR.E.O. (1958): Laboratory diagnosis of streptococcal infections. - Bull. Wld. Hlth. Org. 19: 153–176.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Molina, A.M., Coratza, G., Musmanno, R.A. et al. Production of serum-opacity factor by Streptococcus pyogenes strains isolated from pharyngitis in children prevalence of ≪rheumatogenic≫ M types among of-negative strains. Eur J Epidemiol 1, 37–41 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00162310
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00162310