The pyrogenic effect of scarlet fever toxin

Scarlet fever toxin was found to liberate leukocytic pyrogen from granulocytesin vitro. In comparative experiments withSalmonella paratyphi B endotoxin and scarlet fever toxin it was tested whether leukocytes from rabbits tolerant to one of these toxins are able to synthetize and liberate endogenous pyrogen. Leukocytes from rabbits tolerant to endotoxin liberated leukoeytic pyrogen following challenge with endotoxin or with scarlet fever toxin. Leukocytes from animals tolerant to scarlet fever toxin liberated leukocytic pyrogen in the presence of endotoxin, but were insensitive to homologous, i.e. scarlet fever toxin. Similarly, leukocytes from cortisone-treated animals did not liberate leukocytic pyrogen if they were incubated with scarlet fever toxin, but liberation of leukocytic pyrogen did take place under challenge with endotoxin. Leukocytes from normal animals incubated in Hanks solution without toxin did not synthetize endogenous pyrogen.     

The pyrogenic effect of scarlet fever toxin

The scarlet fever toxin is pyrogenically active. The pyretic reaction can be inhibited with antiserum bothin vitro andin vivo. From the quantitative aspect the pyrogenicity neutralization point corresponds approximately to the equivalence point of the flocculation reaction. The transmission of tolerance with the serum of tolerant animals failed. Tolerance was of short duration; interruption of the series of toxin injections for two days resulted in complete restoration of the animal's sensitivity. It is argued on the basis of these results that although tolerance carries signs of immunological specificity it cannot be explained in terms of circulating antibodies.     

The pathophysiological effect of scarlet fever toxin

The intravenous injection of scarlet fever toxin leads to acute changes in the white blood picture. The changes are correlated to the dose; a small dose causes lymphopenia and granulocytosis, while higher doses are followed by initial granulocytopenia. Tolerant rabbits do not have granulocytopenia, but lymphopenia persists. Tolerance to the leucopenic effect of the toxin probably develops somewhat sooner and lasts longer than tolerance to its pyrogenic effect. The blood picture of a cortisone-treated rabbit after the intravenous injection of scarlet fever toxin resembles the blood picture of a tolerant rabbit. The significance and associations of these observations are briefly discussed.     

Influence of antilymphocyte and antipolymorphonuclear sera on the pyrogenic effect of scarlet fever toxin

The role played by lymphocytes in the pyretic response to scarlet fever toxin (ET) was studied in vivo using antilymphocyte serum (ALS). Two i.v. injections of ALS inhibited the pyretic response to a subsequent ET injection in rabbits. The course of endotoxin fever remained uninfluenced by ALS. Antipolymorphonuclear serum had no effect on the pyretic response to either of the toxins. Pretreatment with ALS also inhibited the skin reaction after i.d. injection of ET. These findings are further evidence a mediating role of lymphocytes in the biological effects of ET, among other things in the release of endogenous pyrogen.     

含ICE-emm12和ΦHKU.vir化脓链球菌引起的猩红热1例

2011年中国开始出现猩红热疫情,病例以普通型为主,外科型较少报道。ICE-emm12和ΦHKU.vir是中国香港地区猩红热暴发株中首次发现的2个可移动遗传元件,尚不清楚其是否存在于中国内地的猩红热致病株中。本文报道1例猩红热病例,其咽部和皮肤伤口皆分离出同一克隆株的化脓链球菌,该菌株携带ICE-emm12和ΦHKU.vir,从而证实这2个新元件存在于中国内地的化脓链球菌中。因此,国内有必要对猩红热分离株进行ICE-emm12和ΦHKU.vir检测,以监测致病株在基因水平的变化。     

Comparative characteristics of the immunologic structure of children's collectives as regards scarlatina in different climatic zones]

An immunological study (in respect to scarlet fever) of children in children's collective bodies was conducted in 1971-1972 simultaneously in two towns-Ashkhabad and Petrozavodsk located in the contrast climatic zones. Results of Dick's test and passive hemagglutination test indicated no significant differences in the level and intensity of antitoxic immunity in children of both cities; only during the autumn period, corresponding to the seasonal increase in the incidence of scarler fever in Ashkabad, the number of immune children in this town proved to be greater than in Petrozavodsk, this being connected with a more active process of "mute" immunization. At the same time differences were revealed in the level and dynamics of antibodies to the leading types of M-antigens of hemolytic streptococci. Consequently, a higher immunological reactivity of the organism in children in Ashkhabad (promoting rapid formation of both the antitoxic and the antimicrobial immunity and limiting of the spread of marked scarlet fever affections) underlied the differences in the level of scarlet fever morbidity in different climatic zones.     

Toxic scarlet fever complicating cellulitis: early clinical diagnosis is crucial to prevent a fatal outcome

We describe a case of toxic scarlet fever in a healthy adult with streptococcal cellulitis of the right elbow as a result of skin abrasion. The clinical picture mimicked that of drug eruption after treatment of cellulitis with antibiotics. Among the five cases of scarlet fever complicating cellulitis, including the present one, reported in the English literature, four had severe systemic complications and two died. As a result of re-emergence of invasive streptococcal infections, clinicians should be aware of the differential diagnosis of scarlet fever in patients presenting with cellulitis and skin rash. Early clinical diagnosis is crucial to exclude drug eruptions, prompt initiation of antibiotic treatment, and prevention of the potentially fatal outcome.     

Epidemiological pattern of scarlet fever in recent years

During the period of 1953-2001 scarlet fever morbidity level fluctuated from 670.3 to 65.9 per 100,000 of the population in Moscow and from 531.9 to 35.0 per 100,000 of the population of the Russian Federation. In recent years an increased morbidity was more pronounced in Moscow than in the Russian Federation as a whole. Children formed the greater part of scarlet fever patients, the cases of scarlet fever among children in Moscow occurring more often than, on the average, in Russia. As before, annual morbidity among children attending children's institutions was higher 3- to 4-fold than among children brought up at home. This difference was most sharply pronounced among young children during the first two years of their life. In contrast to morbidity observed during previous 20-30 years, a drop in morbidity among children during the first two years of their life was registered, while morbidity level among children aged 3-6 years and 7-14 years increased. Scarlet fever morbidity had a pronounced seasonal (autumn-winter) pattern. In a group of children aged 3-5 years who attended organized groups, on the average, 78.6% of scarlet fever cases fell on seasonal morbidity, the most prolonged one.     

Use of tomicid in prophylaxis of respiratory streptococcal infection in the organized groups of children of pre-school age

The results of the approbation of the use of Tomicid for the prophylaxis of scarlet fever and other manifestations of streptococcal infection in an organized group of children of pre-school age are presented. The pronounced prophylactic effect of Tomicid, manifested by a reliable decrease of group A streptococcal carrier state, as well as in a decrease in morbidity in respiratory streptococcal infection among children in the test group in comparison with those in the control one. The simplicity of the use of the preparation (as throat gargle for 5 days) makes it possible to regard this preparation as a promising remedy for the urgent prophylaxis of scarlet fever.     

黑龙江省2010～2020年猩红热发病与气象因素的关联性研究

分析黑龙江省气象因素与猩红热发病的关系,建立时间序列模型,为今后制定更科学有效的猩红热防控策略提供参考依据。收集黑龙江省2010～2020年猩红热月发病数据以及同期气温、气压等气象资料,应用广义相加模型分析气象因素与猩红热发病之间的关联程度和形式。结果发现: 猩红热全年均有发病而且呈现出较为典型的双峰型特征,在春季的4～5月份和冬季的11～12月份发病数达到高峰;月平均气压、月平均相对湿度、月日照时数和月平均风速的P值均小于0.05,表明具有统计学意义。同时,RR(相对危险度Risk Ratio)值均小于1,即猩红热发病与四个气象因素呈负相关。黑龙江省猩红热发病每年存在两个流行高峰,主要以冬季为主,发病数随着月平均相对湿度、月日照时数、月平均风速与月平均气压的升高而降低。     

Characteristics of beta-hemolytic streptococci secreted in children in various climatic zones]

A study was made of the level of carrier-state, serological characteristics, virulence and toxigenicity of beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from children in two towns with a different incidence of scarlet fever located in the contrast climatic zones. It was found that the level of carrier-state of beta-hemolytic streptococci and biological properties of the circulating strains were important factors associated with the incidence of scarlet fever.     

The epidemic process of an acute streptococcal respiratory infection in large organized collectives of children

The study of the specific features of the development of the epidemic process of scarlet fever, tonsillitis, and acute respiratory diseases (ARD) in two large organized groups of children revealed the presence of some differences which depended on the character of prophylactic measures taken in these groups. Thus, in the absence of prophylaxis with bicillin a pronounced increase in the level of carriership, accompanied by an increase in the infective capacity of carriers, was noted. This resulted in a high level and unfavorable dynamics of morbidity in scarlet fever, tonsillitis, and ARD. On the contrary, the use of prophylaxis with bicillin ensured the stability of the level of carriership, while the infective capacity of carriers was not pronounced. At the same time a rise in ARD morbidity was insignificant, and morbidity in scarlet fever and tonsillitis was reduced to nil.     

Trichinella spiralis: differences between "early" and "late" rapid expulsion evident from inhibition studies using cortisone and irradiation

Cortisone administered once at 100 mg/kg during the first 3 weeks of infection inhibited rapid expulsion. In rats immunized with an abbreviated infection (T/M regime) inhibition averaged approximately 50%, whereas in rats given a complete infection (C.I.) 14% inhibition occurred. Sensitivity to 400 rad whole-body irradiation was greatest 7 days before a challenge infection in all immune rats. Three days after beginning the T/M infection rats were highly susceptible to cortisone but only weakly so to irradiation. Rats immunized by C.I. were equally, but only weakly, susceptible to either cortisone or irradiation 3 days after infection. Acute administration of cortisone 1 or 4 hr prior to challenge did not inhibit rapid expulsion but 60% inhibition occurred when cortisone was given 24 hr prior to challenge. Inhibition of rapid expulsion by irradiation 7 days prior to challenge was not reversed by immune serum and irradiation did not affect antibody titer in treated rats. It was suggested that irradiation 7 days before challenge compromised the intestinal, and not the immunological, component of rapid expulsion. Differences in sensitivity of "early" and "late" rapid expulsion to irradiation and cortisone therapy provide further evidence of functional differences between these rejection processes.     

Crystal structure of a dimeric form of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SpeA1)

Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SpeA1) is a bacterial superantigen associated with scarlet fever and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). SpeA1 is found in both monomeric and dimeric forms, and previous work suggested that the dimer results from an intermolecular disulfide bond between the cysteines at positions 90 of each monomer. Here, we present the crystal structure of the dimeric form of SpeA1. The toxin crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121, with two dimers in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The final structure has a crystallographic R-factor of 21.52% for 7248 protein atoms, 136 water molecules, and 4 zinc atoms (one zinc atom per molecule). The implications of SpeA1 dimer on MHC class II and T-cell receptor recognition are discussed.     

Effect of scarlet fever toxin on the phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system

In normal rabbits and mice, one i.v. injection of scarlet fever toxin (ET) (30 000 STD per kg of rabbit weight or 20-g mouse) elicited a similar biphasic change in carbon clearance rate - early depression followed by a stimulating phase - as has been described for Gram-negative endotoxins. Prolonged depression without a subsequent stimulation phase was obtained in mice by raising the ET dose. The reasons of the discrepancy between these findings and those of Hanna and Watson (1965b) are discussed. Pyrogenic tolerance to ET is not accompanied by accelerated carbon clearance and is not impaired by RES blockade. A possible mechanism of ET tolerance is suggested.     

Toxin B and A production by beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from scarlet fever patients]

This work was aimed at the study of the frequency of isolation of beta-hemolytic streptococci from the patients suffering from scarlet fever, producing A and B toxins. Toxigenicity of the microbes was studied in the indirect agglutination test. In 68.4 per cent of cases there were isolate streptococci producing toxin A, and in 22.8 per cent--toxin B. The percentage of strongly toxigenic A-strains constituted 28.2, and of B-strains--0.6. The greatest incidence of the A and B toxigenic streptococci was observed during the autumn-winter period. Among the strains of the 4th--"leading" serological type there were the greatest number of the A-toxigenic variants, and among the streptococci belonging to the I serological type--of the B-toxigenic strains.     

A族β溶血性链球菌与猩红热的相关研究

A族β溶血性链球菌（beta—haemolyticgroup A Streptococcusisolate,GAS）又称为酿脓链球菌（Strepto—coccus pyogenes）,是一种常见的致病性化脓性革兰阳性球菌,猩红热是由GAS引起的儿童常见呼吸道传染病。近年来,随着严重侵袭性GAS感染在欧美一些国家再次增多,猩红热在一些国家中的发病率也在升高。简要介绍GAS的分型、超抗原及耐药与猩红热之间的关系。     

Chromosome aberrations in leucocytes of patients with aseptic meningitis

Summary Three patients with aseptic meningitis and two patients with scarlet fever were subjected to chromosome analysis in cultured leucocytes. Information was obtained that leucocytes of the aseptic meningitis patients exhibit random and non-specific chromosome aberrations significantly higher in frequency than the control series from scarlet fever patients. The most common type of the aberration observed was a single chromatid break including a full break in one chromatid. Isochromatid-type breaks, chromatid- and chromosome-type interchanges and acentric fragments were observed less frequently.Contribution No. 641 from the Zoological Institute, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. This paper was written to dedicate to Professor Dr. Hans Bauer in celebration of his sixtieth birthday, September 27, 1964. Supported by a grant from the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for Cancer Research to S. Makino, DRG-563C (T).     

Influence of Various Factors on Toxicity of Culture Filtrate of a Drechslera maydis Strain from Costus speciosus

Drechslera maydis causing severe leaf blight of Costus speciosus, produced toxic matabolites in vitro. Maximum toxin was produced in modified Fries’ medium if its carbon source was substituted with glucose and nitrogen source with asparagine. Highest toxin accumulation was found at 21 days of incubation and with the initial pH 5.0. The toxin was stable in acidic condition (pH 3.5—7.0) but unstable under alkaline conditions.     

The dynamics of detecting group-A streptococci in an infectious disease clinic]

The study revealed that the isolation rate of group A streptococci in scarlet fever patients at the time of hospitalization did not exceed 68%. The isolation rate of these streptococci was greatly influenced by antibacterial therapy carried out before hospitalization. Under clinical conditions with intensive penicillin therapy group A streptococci were eliminated from the larynx on days 3-4. In 13% of children repeated streptococcal infection was observed 0.5-3 months after discharge from hospital.