High Incidence of Isolation of the Two Specific Strains of Str. sanguis from Tooth Plaques Among the Patients with MCLS

Abstract

Two specific strains of Str. sanguis were isolated from tooth plaques in 61.7% of the patients with MCLS and their mothers, while the incidence among 744 controls was 1.9%. Serum indirect hemagglutination inhibition test, assayed by using sensitized sheep RBC with superficial antigen of the strains, showed a maximal increase in titers at 2 to 3 weeks of the disease course, followed by a gradual decrease. Injections of these strains, the filtrate and the purified component of the bacterial culture broth each caused various inflammatory changes compatible with MCLS in the experimental animals. No other strains of Str. sanguis produced the same changes. These findings suggest that some specific strains of Str. sanguis may be involved in the etiology of MCLS.