Intraamniotic infection due to group G streptococcus: treatment and antibody response.
Penicillin treatment and antibody response were studied using a rhesus monkey model for intraamniotic infection with type III group B streptococci (T3GBS). Acute and convalescent phase sera from mothers and their offspring were tested with a radioactive antigen-binding assay to determine the concentration of antibody to the capsular T3GBS antigen. The frequency of placentitis was significantly lower in penicillin-treated animals (3 of 8) than in controls (10 of 10; P less than .01). The penicillin group also had a significantly lower neonatal mortality (1 of 9) than controls (6 of 10; P less than .05). Both groups of rhesus mothers developed a significant increase in concentration of antibody to T3GBS, but the antibody response was of lesser magnitude in the penicillin-treated group. This experimental model appears to be useful for studying both therapy for intraamniotic infection and the humoral immune response to infection with T3GBS.
D000650:Amnion; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010402:Penicillin G Procaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D010402:Penicillin G Procaine; D010400:Penicillin G