The Carrier State and Type-Specific Immunity in Streptococcal Disease

Protective immunity to the group A Streptococcus may be only strain specific

“…The results reported in this study are of considerable importance because of the general acceptance that individuals with type-specific antibody are protected when challenged with any streptococci of the same M-type [3,9,15]. The development of a vaccine providing type specific immunity to specific M-types, associated particularly with rheumatic fever, has been the goal of many researchers.…”

“…These opsonic antibodies are described as type specific, i.e. antibodies directed against a particular M protein protect an individual against infection with all other isolates sharing that M protein [3,9,15].…”

Postoccipital Lymphadenopathy as a Diagnostic Sign in Roseola Infantum (Exanthem Subitum)

“…3 Comments First described as roseola infantum by Zahorsky in 1910, the name exanthem subitum was suggested by Veeder and Heilman in 1921 because &dquo;both mother and physician are surprised when the rash appears after a high remitting fever having been present for two or three days. &dquo; The presence of these postoccipital nodes as a pre-eruptive finding was overlooked by Zahorsky in his second paper in 1913 when he reported 33 cases and he specifically mentioned the lack of significant adenopath.y.~ Later, however, in Brennemann's Practice of Pediatrics he mentioned that nodes are often found in the postoccipital area and are a suggestive sign.6 Ninety-six per cent of Clemens' patients had postoccipital adenopathy.~ Kemp in Horsfall and Tamm's virology text specifically mentions that small postoccipital lymph nodes occur in roseola inf~,ntum.s During the past two years the author has observed periodic outbreaks of an acute febrile illness in his young patients.…”

Prevalence and persistence of certain serologic types of Streptococcus pyogenes in metropolitan Tokyo

“…35 M antibodies are produced in carriers as well, and antitoxin immunity prevents clinical symptoms of scarlet fever, but not other streptococcal infections such as tonsillitis. 36 Cleary et al 37 suggested that bacteria undergo genetic changes when the density of antibodies to major bacteria increases in a regional population and reported that this is related to the fate of epidemic waves and bacterial substitution. The repetition of prevalence of major strains causing scarlet fever at an interval of several years observed in our study may also be related to changes in the antibody density.…”