Studies on Streptococcal T Antibodies

II. Clinical and Epidemiological Studies on Streptococcal type T4-Specific Antibody examined by Hemagglutination Reaction

Abstract

In previous studies we demonstrated the hemagglutination reaction for determination of type-specific antibody to T4 protein of group A streptococci. In this report the hemagglutination reaction was applied to clinical and epidemiological studies on T4 antibody in patients with scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, acute glomerulonephritis or other diseases, and in streptococcal carriers.
The knowledge obtained were as follows:
1. No significant differences were found out statistically on T4 antibody titers between patients with scarlet fever and normal controls.
2. In this statistic studies the average of T4 antibody titers and the percentage of T4 antibody possession seemed to be age related; the older children advanced, the higher the titer and the percentage become.
3. It was demonstrated that high levels of T4 antibody were found out in cord sera to a degree equal to the mother's.
4. T4 antibody titers of patients with scarlet fever caused by type T4 strains were much lower significantly (p<0.05) than that of patients caused by other types of strains.
5. T4 antibody titer was elevated much later than ASO or ASK.
6. Streptococcal carriers of type T4 strains were possessed of high levels of T4 antibody.
7. In patients with scarlet fever (by T4 strains) treated with penicillins for seven days, elevated T4 antibody titers appeared later in cases of recurrent positive cultures, however, did not in the cases of negative cultures after therapy.
8. High levels of T4 antibody were recognized in patients with acute glomerulonephritis and rheumatic fever. One of them was showed significant elevation of this antibody during follow up study, and in this case it seemed to be valuable on diagnosis of pathogenic type of strains.