[Streptococcal antibodies in a general population. Comparative study in 2 periods at a health service]

Antibodies to streptococcal Estreptolysin O and DNAse B were sampled from 1986 through 1989 in 135 healthy individuals of both sexes, grouped by age, at a metropolitan area of Santiago, Chile, and their geometric mean titers (GMT) were calculated. GMT of 110 U (Todd) for Antiestreptolysin and 194 U for Anti-DNAse B were recorded in the whole sample. Antiestreptolysin O titers were 62 UT for age group 5 to 9 years, 127 UT for 10 to 14 year olds and 114 UT for ages 15 or older. Anti-DNAse B titers for the same age groups were 158 U, 240 U and 198 U respectively. No significant differences were detected between these results and those from an earlier (1978 to 1981) study, except for Anti-DNase B titers in 5 to 9 years olds, which were significantly lower (GMT 158 U vs. 270 U) in the most recent screening.