Pharyngeal Carriage of Beta-Haemolytic Streptococcus Species and Seroprevalence of Anti-Streptococcal Antibodies in Children in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

The pharynx of the child may serve as a reservoir of pathogenic bacteria, including beta-haemolytic group A streptococci (GAS), which can give rise to upper airway infections and post-streptococcal diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of beta-haemolytic Streptococcus spp. in pharyngeal samples stemming from children aged 3–14 years in Bouaké, central Côte d’Ivoire. Oropharyngeal throat swabs for microbiological culture and venous blood samples to determine the seroprevalence of antistreptolysin O antibodies (ASO) were obtained from 400 children in March 2017. Identification was carried out using conventional bacteriological methods. Serogrouping was performed with a latex agglutination test, while an immunological agglutination assay was employed for ASO titres. The mean age of participating children was 9 years (standard deviation 2.5 years). In total, we detected 190 bacteria in culture, with 109 beta-haemolytic Streptococcus isolates, resulting in an oropharyngeal carriage rate of 27.2%. Group C streptococci accounted for 82.6% of all isolates, whereas GAS were rarely found (4.6%). The ASO seroprevalence was 17.3%. There was no correlation between serology and prevalence of streptococci (p = 0.722). In conclusion, there is a high pharyngeal carriage rate of non-GAS strains in children from Bouaké, warranting further investigation.

Determining the frequency of Streptococcus pneumoniae carriers and its microbial resistance in children

“…But in another study, the prevalence of carriers was reported to be 37.5% (20). In another research, the prevalence of carriers of Streptococcus pneumoniae was 44.1%, which was much higher than in present study (21). This high rate may be due to congestion or a low level of hygiene in kindergartens in these areas.…”

Relationship between blood components, inflammatory factors and bacterial spp that cause tonsillitis and dental caries in Iraqi children

“…The results of association between bacterial species and some tested parameter showed similar results were obtained by Zegeye et al [12] who also reported statistically significant association between BHS culture positivity and ASO positivity ( P = 0.0315). The seroprevalence of ASO antibodies was found to be 17.3 percentage in the sera of 69 children in a study by Monemo et al [13]. Twenty-four of these children were found to have beta-hemolytic streptococci in their pharyngeal swabs, which included 19 children with group C streptococci, four children with group B streptococci, and one kid with serogroup G. As established by a titer of 200 IU/ml in those children, there was no statistically significant connection between oropharyngeal carriage of beta-hemolytic streptococci and presence of ASO.…”