K. Lindberg et al., ANTI-PNEUMOCOCCAL ANTIBODY-ACTIVITY IN NASOPHARYNGEAL SECRETIONS IN HEALTHY-ADULTS AND CHILDREN, Acta oto-laryngologica, 113(5), 1993, pp. 673-678
The local antibody activity to Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6B wa
s measured in nasopharyngeal secretions from 20 healthy adults and 43
children, 1-3 years of age, 14 of whom were healthy and 29 were at ris
k for developing recurrent episodes of acute otitis media (RAOM) accor
ding to the criteria described below. In children, anti pneumococcal I
gA and IgG antibody activity was of the same magnitude in both groups.
Adults showed significantly higher specific IgA activity. Antibody ac
tivity of the IgG isotype was also higher in adults, possibly reflecti
ng the higher serum antibody levels. The children at risk of developin
g RAOM had significantly higher levels of secretory component (SC) in
their nasopharyngeal secretions. Our data suggest that local immunity
in the nasopharynx is not fully developed in young children, which mig
ht contribute to bacterial survival and colonization in the region.