J Korean Med Sci.  2005 Dec;20(6):938-940. 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.6.938.

Asymptomatic Infection by Streptococcus pyogenes in Schoolchildren and Diagnostic Usefulness of Antideoxyribonuclease B

• Kim S
• Lee NY

• KMID: 2157740
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2005.20.6.938

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.

Keyword

Streptococcus pyogenes; Antideoxyribonuclease B; Antistreptolysin; Throat Culture; Asymptomatic Infection

MeSH Terms

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

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