Abstract
Acquisition of bacteria possessing antigens cross-reactive with groups A, B, C meningococci (Mgc) and H.influenzae Type B (HIB) was examined in 99 infants. Pharyngeal and rectal swabs were obtained at every visit to the pediatrician (MR) during the first year of life and cultured aerobically on TSB agar containing specific antibody to groups A, B, C Mgc and HIB. Bacteria around which antigen-antibody haloes formed were identified by standard methods. Sera were obtained at 12-15 months of age and tested for bactericidal antibody. Forty-four % of 68 infants who were cultured 4 or more times carried bacteria in the rectal culture cross-reactive with group B Mgc and 38% acquired pharyngeal organisms which cross-reacted with group C Mgc. Less than 2% of infants had bacteria cross-reactive with group A Mgc or HIB. Bacteria associated with cross-reactions included: Group A Mgc (Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis), Group B Mgc (E.coli, Streptococcus viridans), Group C Mgc (Streptococcus viridans), and HIB (E.coli). Bactericidal antibody against group B Mgc was present at 1 year of age in 84% of carriers of cross-reactive E.coli but was not found against group C Mgc in carriers of cross-reactive Streptococci.
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Gold, R., Randolph, M., Lepow, M. et al. 772 NATURAL IMMUNITY TO PYOGENIC BACTERIA. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 492 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00777
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00777
