[Use of a coagglutination reaction based on a Soviet staphylococcal reagent for serogrouping Streptococcus group B and meningococci].

The coagglutination (COA) test is used for the serogrouping of streptococci, group B, and meningococci. The trial of a Soviet commercial preparation (staphylococcal reagent) has shown good prospects for its use in the COA test and high specificity of this test method. The availability of highly specific immune sera permits making standard kits for the identification of different infective agents in the COA test.

[Evaluation of the diagnostic value of a modified hemolysis inhibition test in staphylococcal diseases].

Blood serum samples from 602 healthy adults and 430 patients with suppurative lactation mastitis were studied with the use of the hemolysis inhibition test in the authors' modification, suitable for work with small amounts of blood serum. In most of the healthy adults (80.4%), the content of staphylococcal antitoxin in the blood serum did not exceed 1 antitoxic unit (AU), while in 3/4 of the suppurative mastitis patients a pronounced increase in antibody titers (up to 4--32 AU) was observed.

[Role of various diseases of the upper respiratory tract in the epidemiological process of streptococcal infections].

Investigations conducted with the use of a specially elaborated method revealed a specific association of some (15--24%) of diseases diagnosed clinically as "acute respiratory affection" (ARA) with streptococcus infection. This was also confirmed by detection of an epidemiological association of ARA with scarlet fever revealed in some child collective bodies. The data obtained pointed to the definite role played by such diseases in the epidemic process in streptococcus infections.

[Type specific antistreptococcal antibodies in the passive hemagglutination test].

The authors present materials of the elaboration of a method of obtaining stable erythrocytic diagnostic agents from semipurified preparations of type-specific antigens of the hemolytic streptococcus of the 1st, 4th, 12th and 18th serotypes. Adequate specificity and high sensitivity of the passive hemagglutination test was shown in examination of the sera of experimental animals. In the sera of healthy children the type-specific antibodies were revealed with a different frequency at various seasons of the year; this was in inverse correlation with the level of scarlet fever morbidity.

[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.

[Patterns in the epidemic process of scarlet fever in various territories differing in respect of climate and geography].

Observations carried out in Ashkhabad and Petrozavodsk permitted to reveal specific features of the epidemic process in scarlet fever at the territories differing in climato-geographic respect. This was expressed in a different level of morbidity, differences in the character of periodicity, seasonality and age structure of morbidity. Along with this there were noted differences in the spread of the carrier state of hemolytic streptococcus and of their biological properties, and also in the process of immunity formation in the population.

[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.

[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.

[Antibodies to erythrogenic toxin B in scarlatina patients].

Coupled sera of 240 children suffering from scarlet fever obtained on the 1st-5th and 12th-15th days of the disease were examined in the PHA test with the A and B toxins. Antibodies to toxin B were revealed in 63-69% and to toxin A in 60-66% of the sera. In 64.