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Immunoglobulin-coated bacteria on the tonsillar surface during infectious mononucleosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Lars-Eric Stenfors  and
Simo Räisänen
Lars-Eric Stenfors*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Tromsö, Tromsö, Norway
Simo Räisänen
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Central Hospital of Keski-Pohjanmaa, Kokkola, Finland
*
Address for correspondence: Lars-Eric Stenfors, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Tromsö, N-9038 Tromsö, Norway
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Abstract

Sequential bacterial samples were obtained from the tonsillar surface of 19 consecutive patients (12 females, seven males; mean age 16.1 years, range four to 24 years) suffering from infectious mononucleosis with membranous tonsillitis. The specimens were examined with respect to aerobes (culture on blood and chocolate agar plates) and proportions of bacteria coated with immunoglobulins (secretory IgA, IgG, IgM) by using an immunofluorescence assay. In the early stage of the membranous tonsillitis phase, attachment of secretory IgA (SIgA) and IgG to the bacteria was greatly suppressed, as compared with healthy controls. Coating with IgM was evident only late in the membranous tonsillitis phase but was contracted and still evident even after the clinical throat symptoms had abated. The findings suggest that the B-lymphotropic Epstein-Barr virus, causative agent of infectious mononucleosis, exerts a transient suppression of immunoglobulin-coating of bacteria harboured on the tonsillar surfaces, with consequent abundant bacterial attachment to the epithelial cells and massive bacterial colonization on the palatine tonsils.

Keywords

Epstein-Barr virusImmunoglobulinsMucosal immunity
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 110 , Issue 4 , April 1996 , pp. 339 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1996

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