Dynamics of the immune response in rabbits immunized with spreptococcal extracellular antigens: comparison of the Streptozyme agglutination test with three specific neutralization tests.

The dynamics of the immune response to streptococcal extracellular antigens as measured by the streptozyme agglutination test have been defined in experimental animals andcompared with the dynamics of the immune response as determined by three established neutralization tests for streptococcal antibodies (ASO, anti-DNase B,and anti-NADase). In rabbits immunized with streptococcal extracellular Streptozyme-measured antibodies rose more quickly and peaked earlier than did antibodies to streptolysin O, streptococcal DNase-B, and streptococcal NADase. Additional studiesrevealed that the early peak was primarily due to 2-mercaptoethanol-sensitive (19S) antibody and that the later rise in Streptozyme-measured antibodies was due to 2-mercaptoethanol-resistant (7S) antibody. Preliminary observations using sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation tended to confirm this interpretation. These data provide a possible explanation for the early detection of a streptococcal antibody response by the Streptozyme test which has also been described in humans. The data suggest a theoretical advantage for the Streptozyme agglutination test in patients with streptococcal infections and their sequealae. However, the complexity of the Streptozyme reagent suggests that more extensive studies are needed to assure the consistent reproductivity of results with different lots of the test reagent.