[The typing of group A haemolytic streptococci. V. Communication: type differentiation within the T-complexes 3, 13, B3264 by means of monospecific T-antisera (author's transl)].

Abstract

Monospecifically reacting T-antisera can be prepared by the absorption technique of Takizawa, Akiyama and Miyamoto for the Streptococcus pyogenes types 3, 13, B3264 and by conventional techniques for the types 41 and 56. The findings were confirmed by correlation of the T-type with the M-type. This method to a large extent enables typing of group A-streptococcal strains with the T-complex 3, 13, B3264. M-precipitation allows this to a far lesser degree, since M-antigens are produced by only a fairly small percentage of these types. Approximately 90 percent of the 1132 strains agglutinating with T 3, 13, B3264-complex antiserum could be assigned to one of these 3 types by use of monospecifically reacting T-antisera. The epidemiological analysis is considerably improved by this system. The results of the T-typing are in agreement with the outcome of the serum opacity reaction (SOR). Strains belonging to types 3, 41 and 56 react negatively in the SOR, strains of type 13 and B3264 show a positive SOR. The types 33, 43, 52 and 53 possess an identical T-antigen, so that monospecifically reacting T-antisera could not be prepared for these types.