Asymptomatic Infection by Streptococcus pyogenes in Schoolchildren and Diagnostic Usefulness of Antideoxyribonuclease B.
10.3346/jkms.2005.20.6.938
- Author:
Sunjoo KIM
1
;
Nam Yong LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Streptococcus pyogenes;
Antideoxyribonuclease B;
Antistreptolysin;
Throat Culture;
Asymptomatic Infection
- MeSH:
Antibodies, Bacterial/*blood;
Bacterial Proteins/immunology;
Child;
Deoxyribonucleases/*immunology;
Female;
Humans;
Korea;
Male;
Serologic Tests;
Streptococcal Infections/*diagnosis/*immunology;
Streptococcus pyogenes/enzymology/*immunology;
Streptolysins/immunology
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2005;20(6):938-940
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This study is designed to evaluate the immune status of schoolchildren with respect to Streptococcus pyogenes, and to ascertain the usefulness of antideoxyribonuclease B (ADNase B). Antistreptolysin O (ASO) and ADNase B concentrations were measured quantitatively in 266 serum samples from healthy elementary school children in Seoul. Simultaneously, throat cultures were taken in order to isolate S. pyogenes and other beta-hemolytic streptococci (BHS). The upper limits of the normal (ULN) concentration of ASO and ADNase B were 326 IU/mL, and 362 IU/mL, respectively. The correlation between ADNase B (y) and ASO (x) was y=0.4x+173 (r= 0.46). Mean ADNase B level (392 IU/mL) was significantly higher in children with S. pyogenes than in those with non-group A BHS (236 IU/mL) or no BHS (234 IU/ mL). Some schoolchildren were proven, via ASO and ADNase B tests, to be harboring asymptomatic S. pyogenes infections. The high ULN of ASO and ADNase B in schoolchildren should be carefully considered, in order to interpret the data collected from the patients. We could add the ADNase B test to our set of diagnostic tools, which would allow us to more accurately detect and diagnose streptococcal infections, as ADNase B was more specifically related to the results of throat cultures, and there was little correlation between ASO and ADNase B.
