Incidence of Serological Types of Hemolytic Streptococci in Recent Cases of Erysipelas

Summary From 52 erysipelas cases sixteen strains of hemolytic streptococci of the beta type were isolated. Only two strains, a smooth and a coarse, obtained from the erysipelatous lesion of the same patient fell into one of our previously determined groups, that of type IV scarlet fever. Two other strains absorbed, one from each of 2 serums prepared with the new erysipelas strains. However, we cannot consider having found any new agglutinating groups, 2 not being considered sufficient to constitute a group. The antibacterial potency of 2 erysipelas serums, one prepared by the New York City Department of Health and one by the Lederle firm, proved to be of low value, as evidenced by protection tests on white mice. The Otisville erysipelas serum protected to a greater extent than the Lederle serum against the homologous strain, and both protected to about the same degree against the new erysipelas strains. An antiscarlatinal serum prepared at Otisville and intended to serve as control on type specificity in relation to protection, gave almost as much protection as the Otisville erysipelas serum, and more protection than the Lederle serum against one of the major strains used in their preparation, and better protection than either of the erysipelas serums against the new erysipelas strains. A rabbit serum prepared from one of the strains of the new erysipelas series, while being highly potent against its own strain (homologous strain), protected against the other new erysipelas strains to about the same degree as did the antiscarlatinal serum. It protected, however, against the major type erysipelas strain used in the preparation of both erysipelas horse serums to a greater extent than was its own strain protected by either of the erysipelas serums.