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Virulence properties of erysipelas-associated group A streptococci

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Abstract

Group A streptococcal isolates (n=53) recovered from 38 erysipelas patients in 1988 and 1990 in Sweden were analysed with respect to serotype, erythrogenic toxin production and polymorphism in theemm gene region. Serotype determination showed a dominance of type T1M1 (28.6 % of the strains), but T type 8 was also prevalent (14.3 %). In the majority of the strains only a low production of erythrogenic toxin A was demonstrated, while both toxin B and C production were high. Polymorphism was detected in theemm gene region of T1M1 strains at a frequency of 64 %. These erysipelas associated group A streptococci were more heterogenic with respect to serotype distribution and polymorphism in theemm gene region compared to previously studied group A streptococci isolated during an outbreak of serious streptococcal infections in Sweden in 1988/1989. The material included isolates from two cases of recurrence, and typing of the isolates indicated that the patients had been infected by the same serotype as in the primary infection.

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Norrby, A., Eriksson, B., Norgren, M. et al. Virulence properties of erysipelas-associated group A streptococci. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 11, 1136–1143 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01961132

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