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Acta medica Lituanica

ISSN 1392-0138
ISSN 2029-4174 (online)

2009 m. Nr. 3-4

Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage and salivary antibodies induced by pneumococcus in Vilnius preschool children
Mykolas MAURICAS, Sigita PETRAITIENĖ, Raimonda KVIETKAUSKAITĖ, Vytas TAMOŠIŪNAS, Irutė GIRKONTAITĖ, Vytautas USONIS

Background. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a potential respiratory pathogen causing high-risk diseases, particularly in young children. Otherwise, carriage of pneumococcus may be asymptomatic depending on the serotype and the immune system of the individual. The aim of this study was to determine nasopharyngeal carriage rates, serotype distribution and to evaluate the mucosal immune response to S. pneumoniae infection in healthy 2–7-year-old children attending day care centres in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Materials and methods. Nasopharyngeal (n = 601) and saliva samples were collected randomly. A pneumotest kit (Statens Serum Institute, Denmark) was used for serogrouping / serotyping; the sandwich ELISA with a double monoclonal system was used for immunoglobulin concentration measurement.
Results. Carriage rate in the children’s population was 43%; from 33 serotypes found, the following six prevailed: 19F, 23F, 6B, 6A, 3 and 18C, which accounted for 58% of isolates. The carriage rates in children over four were found to be decreased. The concentrations of total and specific salivary antibodies of three isotypes (IgA, IgM and IgG) in carriers of six pneumococcal serotypes (3, 6B, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F) were measured.
Conclusions. The carriage rates and prevalent serotypes of S. pneumoniae in healthy preschool Lithuanian children were similar as in the neighbouring states. The response of total and specific salivary antibodies was found to be serotypespecific. The pneumococcal carriage stimulated the production of not only specific antibodies, but also of total immunoglobulins of S-IgA, IgM and IgG isotypes.

Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae, serotypes, specific antibody, saliva, children

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