Reinterpretation of the Dick test: role of group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin
Autor: | K M Bettin, Patrick M. Schlievert, Dennis W. Watson |
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Rok vydání: | 1979 |
Předmět: |
Scarlet Fever
Streptococcus pyogenes Immunology Erythrogenic toxin Exotoxins Biology Tuberculin medicine.disease_cause Microbiology Desquamation Arthus Reaction medicine Animals Hypersensitivity Delayed Bovine serum albumin Skin Tests Pyrogens Arthus reaction Toxin Serum Albumin Bovine Intradermal Tests medicine.disease Infectious Diseases biology.protein Scarlet fever Parasitology Rabbits medicine.symptom Antitoxin Research Article |
Zdroj: | Scopus-Elsevier |
ISSN: | 1098-5522 0019-9567 |
DOI: | 10.1128/iai.26.2.467-472.1979 |
Popis: | Because of the association of the group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (SPEs) with erythrogenic toxin used in the classical Dick test, the involvement of the SPEs in production of erythematous skin reactions was assessed. Unless they had been presensitized, young adult rabbits failed to show skin reactions after intracutaneous challenged with SPEs. Rabbits presensitized to purified protein derivative exhibited enhanced skin reactivity when given purified protein derivative plus SPE C; the enhancement was neutralized by antiserum to SPE C. Rabbits sensitized to bovine serum albumin showed extensive red rash development resembling scarlet fever rashes when given bovine serum albumin containing SPE C. Desquamation occurred 5 to 10 days after injection. Animals sensitized to one SPE type showed enhanced skin reactivity to challenge with homologous or heterologous SPE types, indicating the presence of a cross-reactive determinant within the SPE molecules. Repeated challenge of SPE-sensitized animals with homologous toxin resulted in concomitant antitoxin production with reduction of the enhanced skin reactivities, until typical delayed-hypersensitivity skin reactions remained. The data indicate that, in addition to the toxic reaction previously described, SPEs enhance Arthus and delayed-hypersensitivity skin reactions. It follows that erythrogenic toxin represents the enhancement of acquired skin reactivity to streptococcal antigens by one or more SPE types. Therefore, the Dick test measures SPE-enhanced hypersensitivity to streptococcal products. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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