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Seroepidemiological studies of group B Streptococcus type II
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|June 1, 1985
Summary
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) type II antibody levels were low in most infected patients, suggesting widespread "antibody deficiency." This deficiency alone does not determine GBS type II disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a significant cause of neonatal infections.
- Understanding immune responses, specifically antibody levels, to GBS is crucial for preventing disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate IgG antibody levels to GBS type II in maternal and cord sera.
- To assess the relationship between GBS type II antibody levels and colonization/infection status.
Main Methods:
- Prospective epidemiological study surveying 401 maternal-cord sera pairs and 23 infected patient sera.
- Quantification of IgG antibody to GBS type II using immunoassays.
- Prevalence estimation adjusted for colonization status in 8,928 deliveries.
Main Results:
- Type II carriers showed higher antibody levels than carriers of other GBS types; non-colonized individuals had the lowest levels.
- Estimated overall prevalence of antibody levels > 2 µg/ml was approximately 6%.
- Most infected patients had antibody levels < 2 µg/ml, though five had levels between 2.7-5.8 µg/ml.
Conclusions:
- Widespread "antibody deficiency" to GBS type II was observed.
- Antibody levels alone are not a reliable indicator for predicting risk of GBS type II disease.