Ea. Mahmoud et al., AGE-DEPENDENT ANTICHLAMYDIAL ACTIVITY OF HUMAN SALIVA - A STUDY OF INFANTS, CHILDREN AND ADULTS, APMIS. Acta pathologica, microbiologica et immunologica Scandinavica, 101(4), 1993, pp. 306-310
Saliva samples from 51 children ranging from 1 month to 12 years of ag
e were studied for their effect on the capacity of Chlamydia trachomat
is, serotypes I and L2 elementary bodies (EB), to form inclusions in c
ycloheximide-treated McCoy cell cultures. The results were compared to
those of tests using saliva from adults. No antibodies against C trac
homatis or Chlamydia pneumoniae could be detected by microimmunofluore
scence tests in either group. Saliva of children between 1-4 years of
age showed an age-related decrease in the chlamydial inclusion count (
i.c.). Saliva from children older than 4 years of age, like saliva fro
m healthy adults, showed a pronounced reduction of the i.c. (up to 70%
). The study indicates that children between 1-4 years gradually devel
op a natural antichlamydial activity against C trachomatis, and above
that age they exhibit the same level of antichlamydial activity as adu
lts. The inhibitory activity was heat-resistant.