An Agglutination-Type Distribution Survey of Group A Streptococcus in Japan

Abstract

As a part of world-wide survey as: o the distribution of streptococcus pyogenes, present studies were carried out in our country by agglutination method. Kanagawa Prefectural Public Health Laboratory was requested, as an only institute in Asia, to participate in this international survey which was arranged. by Dr. Williams in Streptococcus & Staphylococcus Reference Laboratory in London. For this persecution a domestic study team was also arranged by us under the financial aid of Scientific Research Fund_ of Ministry of Health and Welfare.
During the survey period from June 1964 to May 1965, 336 strains of streptococcus pyogenes from the same number of confirmed cases of streptococcal diseases (one strain from one patient) were collected from eleven collecting laboratories which located north from Hokkaido down through Tohoku- and. Kanto district to Kansai-, Chugoku- and Shikoku districts.
Out of 21 types 11 were actually detected within this country. They were: T4 (48.8%), T6 (15.7%), T25, T1 (2.9%), T22 (2.7%), T3, T5, T9, T14, T23, 5/27/44 and Untypable (20.5%).
The absolute predominancy of the type 4 was apparent. However, the comparison each of the: semianual data extending over one year from 1964 to 1965 revealed that in the latter half period thepercentage of type 6 remarkably gained, catching up with the level of type 4 which was absolutely predominant in the preceded period. This suggests a possibility that the alteration of the dominant type causing: a major or epidemic may actually occur within a relatively short period of time (within a year) and between limited kinds of commoner types.
Present survey showed that the agglutination-typing would be a method of so expedience as well as of worth as to allow laboratories in hospitals or health centres to adopt it, provided that a route for supplying typing-sera will be set up.