Abstract
AbstractTo investigate the initial focus of streptococcal invasion, aerosol‐induced infection in rabbits that resembled natural infection was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Group A type 12 streptococci were adjusted to a concentration of 108‐109 colony forming units (CFU)/ml in saline. The rabbits were exposed to the aerosolized suspension for about two hours and sacrificed at two hours to 14 days after the exposure. Pharyngeal mucous membranes, palatine tonsils and tracheas were observed by TEM.Bacterial attachment was recognized on the tonsillar surface epithelium and abnormalities such as vacuolization of cytoplasm and an increased number of plasma cells were observed in the tonsillar medulla. In addition, specialized epithelial cells included micropinocytotic vesicles with spherical substances similar to those of the bacteria.The micropores of tonsillar crypts are considered to be the pathway of infiltrating cells and initial focus of foreign antigens at present. These findings suggested that tonsils have an important function as the initial focus of invasion of streptococci.
Published Version
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