Prevalence of Group B Streptococcal Type VI Capsul

Authors: K Matsubara K Katayama K Baba H Nigami H Harigaya

Publish Date: 2003/06/24

Volume: 22, Issue: 7, Pages: 453-454

PDF Link

Abstract

Multiple studies have highlighted the importance of group B Streptococcus GBS as a major pathogen for neonates 1 GBS is classified into serotypes based on specific capsular polysaccharides CPSs Type VI GBS was first isolated in 1977 by Wilkinson 2 at the Centers for Disease Control Atlanta Georgia and was originally designated as NT6 Since the mid 1980s strains of this new type have frequently been isolated in Japan and they currently rank second both in the carriage rate among pregnant women 3 and in the incidence of isolation from earlyonset neonatal disease 4 Given the numerous factors predicting invasive neonatal GBS infection the single most important determinant is deficient maternal IgG antibody directed against the CPS of the GBS 1 Protective antibody levels however may differ among CPS types ranging from 05 to 2 µg/ml 1 In this study we investigated the distribution of IgG antibodies to serotype VI GBS in healthy Japanese patients defined by

Keywords: