Abstract
Flow cytometry combined with immunofluorescence ofStreptococcus pyogenes was used to assay bacteria suspended in buffer solution and in saliva derived from throat swabs of healthy volunteers. The method allowed the enumeration of as few as 5 × 103 and 5 × 104 CFU per milliliter of buffer and saliva respectively. Controls includingStreptococcus salivarius instead ofStreptococcus pyogenes or buffer instead of specific antibodies confirmed the specificity of the detection ofStreptococcus pyogenes in the samples. The results suggest that flow cytometry may serve as a basis for an automated reliable method for the diagnosis of streptococcal infections.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bisno, A. L.: The diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis. Annals of Internal Medicine 1979, 90: 426–427.
Kaplan, E. L., Top, F. H., Dudding, B. A., Wannamaker, L. W.: Diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis: differentiation of active infection from the carrier state in the symptomatic child. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1971, 123: 490–501.
Kaplan, E. L., Couser, R., Huwe, B. B., Mckay, C., Wannamaker, L. W.: Significance of quantitative salivary cultures for group A and nongroup Aβ-hemolytic streptococci in patients with pharyngitis and in their family contacts. Pediatrics 1979, 64: 904–912.
Bell, S. M., Smith, D. D.: Quantitative throatswab culture in the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis in children. Lancet 1976, ii: 61–64.
World Health Organisation: Technical Report Series No. 394, 1968, p. 13.
Melamed, M. R., Mullaney, P. F., Mendelsohn, M. L.: Flow cytometry and cell sorting, New York, Wiley, 1978.
Steen, H. B., Boye, E., Skarstad, K., Bloom, B., Godal, T., Mustafa, S.: Applications of flow cytometry on bacteria: cell cycle kinetics, drug effects and quantitation of antibody binding. Cytometry 1982, 2: 249–257.
Gibbons, R. J.: Adhesion of bacteria to the surface of the mouth. In: Berkeley, R. C. W., Lynch, J. M., Melling, J., Rutter, P. R., Vincent, B. (ed.): Microbial adhesion to surfaces. Ellis Horwood, Chichester, 1980, p. 351–388.
Hoeprich, P. D.: Host-parasite realtionships and the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. In: Hoeprich, P. D. (ed.): Infectious diseases. Harper and Row, New York, 1972, p. 35–47.
Bergner-Rabinowitz, S., Skult, O., Haimowici, E., Davies, A. M.: Streptococcal types in Israel hospitals. A four year study. Israel Journal of Medical Science 1966, 2: 428–435.
Slifkin, M., Gil, G. M.: Serogrouping of betahemolytic streptococci from throat swabs with nitrous acid extraction and phadebact streptococcus test. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1982, 15: 187–189.
Edwards, E. A., Phillips, I. A., Smiter, W. C.: Diagnosis of group A streptococcal infections directly from throat secretions. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1982, 15: 481–483.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sahar, E., Lamed, R. & Ofek, I. Rapid identification ofStreptococcus pyogenes by flow cytometry. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2, 192–195 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02029514
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02029514