Serologic responses in patients with invasive group a streptococcal disease - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Serologic responses in patients with invasive group a streptococcal disease;

Authors: Kailankangas, Ville; Gröndahl-Yli-Hannuksela, Kirsi; Vilhonen, Johanna; Rantakokko-Jalava, Kaisu; Seiskari, Tapio; Lönnqvist, Emilia; Oksi, Jarmo; Syrjänen, Jaana; Vuopio, Jaana

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Publication year: 2026

Journal: International Journal of Infectious Diseases

Article number: 108891

Volume: 170

ISSN: 1201-9712

eISSN: 1878-3511

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108891

Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access

Publication channel's open availability : Open Access publication channel

Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108891

Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/526943290

Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY

Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF

Abstract

Objective

To investigate kinetics of anti-streptolysin O (ASO) and anti-deoxyribonuclease B (ADB) and an in-house enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for IgG and IgA in acute and convalescent invasive group A Streptococcal (iGAS) infection.

Materials and methods

We recruited iGAS cases from two Finnish hospitals, between 2018 and 2020. Serum was obtained, on average 2 days, (timepoint A), 9 days (timepoint B) and 3 months (timepoint C) from admission. The sera were analyzed for ASO, ADB, and with EIA for IgA and IgG against the causative strain and the three most common emm types in Finland (emm1, emm28, emm89).

Results

Forty-five cases were recruited, with sera available from 42, 35 and 26 at timepoints A, B and C respectively. At timepoint A, 33% were above the upper limit of normal (ULN) for ASO, and 40% for ADB, but 52% for at least one. At timepoint B, 74% were above ULN for ASO, 79% for ADB, and 91% for at least one. EIA results did not differ between the causative and pooled strains except for IgA at timepoint A.

Conclusions

ASO and ADB have utility in iGAS disease with unavailable culture confirmation. EIA results suggest emm type cross-reactivity, with possible vaccine development implications.

Keywords:

invasive infection, serology

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Funding information in the publication:
This work was supported by Academy of Finland [grant no 308482 to JVu]; Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility area of Turku University Hospital [grant no 8TO5/13285 to JVu, 8TO5/11162 to JVi]; Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility area of Tampere University Hospital [grant no 9U056 to JS]; Maud Kuistila Foundation [grant no 2018-0063F to JVi]; The Finnish Medical Foundation [grant no 2018-2136 to JVi]; Rauno ja Anne Puolimatka Foundation [2017 and 2020 to JVi]; The Finnish Infectious Disease Association [2020 to Jvi].