Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Applied Microbiology logoLink to Applied Microbiology
. 1974 Aug;28(2):199–204. doi: 10.1128/am.28.2.199-204.1974

Identification of Group B Streptococci by Immunofluorescence Staining

Redolfo Romero 1, Hazel W Wilkinson 1
PMCID: PMC186686  PMID: 4212063

Abstract

Gamma globulin fractions of rabbit antisera prepared with whole cell vaccines of group B types Ia, Ib, II, and III and labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate stained group B streptococci type specifically. Type Ic cells, which contain the Ia polysaccharide antigen of type Ia and the Ic protein antigen of type Ib, were specifically stained by both Ia and Ib conjugates. A group B conjugate pool (B pool) that contained one conjugate specific for each group B type at its predetermined titer gave positive fluorescent-antibody (FA) reactions (4+ intensity) with group B stock strains and negative FA reactions (less than 2+ intensity) with stock strains of streptococcal groups A, C through H, and K through U, viridans streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and representative Enterobacteriaceae. Examination of 883 clinical isolates submitted to the Streptococcus Laboratory (Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga.) for identification revealed a 99.1% agreement between FA and culture-precipitin methods. All 305 group B streptococci identified by culture-precipitin and six nonhemolytic group B streptococci missed initially by culture tests were identified correctly by FA. Results of cultural and FA methods in a double-blind study of 99 vaginal swabs agreed on 96 of 99 strains. Three nonhemolytic group B streptococci were identified first by FA and later confirmed by culture-precipitin tests.

Full text

PDF
199

Images in this article

201Image
on p.201
202Image
on p.202

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baker C. J., Barrett F. F., Gordon R. C., Yow M. D. Suppurative meningitis due to streptococci of Lancefield group B: a study of 33 infants. J Pediatr. 1973 Apr;82(4):724–729. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80606-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Baker C. J., Barrett F. F. Transmission of group B streptococci among parturient women and their neonates. J Pediatr. 1973 Dec;83(6):919–925. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80524-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. EICKHOFF T. C., KLEIN J. O., DALY A. K., INGALL D., FINLAND M. NEONATAL SEPSIS AND OTHER INFECTIONS DUE TO GROUP B BETA-HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI. N Engl J Med. 1964 Dec 10;271:1221–1228. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196412102712401. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Eickhoff T. C., Klein J. O., Mortimer E. A., Jr, Wehrle P. F. Letter: The issue of prophylaxis of neonatal group B streptococcal infections. J Pediatr. 1973 Dec;83(6):1097–1100. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80569-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Facklam R. R., Padula J. F., Thacker L. G., Wortham E. C., Sconyers B. J. Presumptive identification of group A, B, and D streptococci. Appl Microbiol. 1974 Jan;27(1):107–113. doi: 10.1128/am.27.1.107-113.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Franciosi R. A., Knostman J. D., Zimmerman R. A. Group B streptococcal neonatal and infant infections. J Pediatr. 1973 Apr;82(4):707–718. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80604-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hebert G. A., Pittman B., Cherry W. B. The definition and application of evaluation techniques as a guide for the improvement of fluorescent antibody reagents. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1971 Jun 21;177:54–69. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1971.tb35033.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kubin V., Jelínková J., Franek J. The use of fluorescent antibodiein e identification of streptococci. 3. Streptococcus B group typing by means of the precipitation and immunofluorescence methods. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol. 1969;13(3):382–388. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Kubín V., Franek J. Participation of type antigen R in the immunofluorescence reaction of group B streptococci. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol. 1969;13(4):521–524. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. LANCEFIELD R. C., PERLMANN G. E. Preparation and properties of a protein (R antigen) occurring in streptococci of group A, type 28 and in certain streptococci of other serological groups. J Exp Med. 1952 Jul;96(1):83–97. doi: 10.1084/jem.96.1.83. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. McCARTY M., LANCEFIELD R. C. Variation in the group-specific carbohydrate of group A streptococci. I. Immunochemical studies on the carbohydrates of variant strains. J Exp Med. 1955 Jul 1;102(1):11–28. doi: 10.1084/jem.102.1.11. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. McCracken G. H., Jr The rate of bacteriologic response to antimicrobial therapy in neonatal meningitis. Am J Dis Child. 1972 Jun;123(6):547–553. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1972.02110120071004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Moody M. D., Siegel A. C., Pittman B., Winter C. C. Fluorescent-Antibody Identification of Group A Streptococci from Throat Swabs. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1963 Jul;53(7):1083–1092. doi: 10.2105/ajph.53.7.1083. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. PATTISON I. H., MATTHEWS P. R., HOWELL D. G. The type classification of group-B streptococci, with special reference to bovine strains apparently lacking in type polysaccharide. J Pathol Bacteriol. 1955 Jan-Apr;69(1-2):51–60. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Wilkinson H. W. Comparison of streptococcal R antigens. Appl Microbiol. 1972 Oct;24(4):669–670. doi: 10.1128/am.24.4.669-670.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Wilkinson H. W., Eagon R. G. Type-specific antigens of group B type Ic streptococci. Infect Immun. 1971 Nov;4(5):596–604. doi: 10.1128/iai.4.5.596-604.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Wilkinson H. W., Facklam R. R., Wortham E. C. Distribution by serological type of group B streptococci isolated from a variety of clinical material over a five-year period (with special reference to neonatal sepsis and meningitis). Infect Immun. 1973 Aug;8(2):228–235. doi: 10.1128/iai.8.2.228-235.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Wilkinson H. W., Moody M. D. Serological relationships of type I antigens of group B streptococci. J Bacteriol. 1969 Feb;97(2):629–634. doi: 10.1128/jb.97.2.629-634.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Wilkinson H. W., Thacker L. G., Facklam R. R. Nonhemolytic group B streptococci of human, bovine, and ichthyic origin. Infect Immun. 1973 Mar;7(3):496–498. doi: 10.1128/iai.7.3.496-498.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES