Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2005 May;12(1):52-60. 10.14776/kjpid.2005.12.1.52.

Seasonal Distribution of T Serotyping and emm Genotyping of Group A Streptococci Obtained from Children with Streptococcal Infections in Masan, Korea, 2003~2004

• Jeon HS
• Park HJ
• Lee HJ
• Ma SH
• Cha SH

• KMID: 2440040
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/kjpid.2005.12.1.52

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to know seasonal distribution of group A streptococci obtained from one center using emm genotyping and T serotyping in Masan from 2003 through 2004.
METHODS
Among children who visited the Changwon Fatima Hospital at Masan, Korea from June 2003 through February 2004, 100 patients who had clinical findings of acute pharyngitis, scarlet fever, and cellulitis were confirmed as GAS by culture, and were enrolled in our study. All obtained GAS were sent to the WHO Collaborative Center for Reference and Research on Streptococci, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis for T serotyping and emm genotyping. We classified these results again according to seasonal and disease's entities.
RESULTS
19 different T serotypes was typed. T4(27.5%), T1(17.6%), T6(13.7%), and T12(13.7%) serotypes were relatively common in summer, while T4(28.3%), T12(15.2%), and T12/B3264(8.7%) were common in winter. T4 and T12 were persistent all year around. Distribution of T serotypes in 89 patients with pharyngotonsillitis were T4(26.7%), T12(14.0%), T1(12.8%), and T6(11.6%) in order of frequency. 15 different emm genotypes was typed. The number of emm 1, emm 6, emm 9, and emm 44 genotypes decreased or disappeared in winter, and the number of emm 3, emm 12, and emm 89 genotypes increased or reappeared in winter.
CONCLUSION
Because T serotyping and emm genotyping are useful tools for evaluating epidemiology and pathogenesis of group A streptococci, we should monitor these strains every year, and should serotype and genotype GAS obtained from the invasive streptococcal infections.

Keyword

Group A streptococci; emm genotype; T serotype

MeSH Terms

Cellulitis
Child*
Epidemiology
Genotype
Gyeongsangnam-do
Humans
Korea*
Minnesota
Pharyngitis
Scarlet Fever
Seasons*
Serogroup
Serotyping*
Streptococcal Infections*