IMMUNOGLOBULIN-COATED BACTERIA ON THE TONSILLAR SURFACE DURING INFECTIOUS-MONONUCLEOSIS

Sequential bacterial samples were obtained from the tonsillar surface of 19 consecutive patients (12 females, seven males; mean age 16.1 yea rs, range four to 24 years) suffering from infectious mononucleosis wi th 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 u sing 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. Co ating with IgM was evident only late in the membranous tonsillitis pha se but was contracted and still evident even after the clinical throat symptoms had abated. The findings suggest that the B-lymphotropic Eps tein-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 attachm ent to the epithelial cells and massive bacterial colonization on the palatine tonsils.