A STUDY ON THE ISOLATION AND SEROTYPING OF STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS FROM DENTAL PLAQUE OF CARIOUS LESION

치아우식증(齒牙齲蝕症)의 환자(患者)의 우식이환부(齲蝕罹患部) 치태(齒苔)로 부터 Streptococcus mutans의 분리(分離)와 혈청형(血淸型)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

Streptococcus mutans strains were isolated from dental plaques of carious lesions of 53 patients on mitis-salivarius-bacitracin (MSB) and mitis-salivarius(MS) medium as a supplement. The epidemiological investigation was carried out to determine the biotypes and serotypes of S. mutans isolates. For the serotyping, autoclaved extract antigens from the isolates and serotype-specific antisera against seven known serotypes of S. mutans were prepared. The serotypes of the isolates were demonstrated in immunodiffusion test. In addtition, the prevalence of ${\beta}$-hemolysis on 5% sheep blood agar plate in restricted anaerobic condition and yellow pigment production on 5% sucrose agar plate in less anaerobic condition among the isolates were investigated. The results were as follows: 1. Forty-eight S. mutans strains were isolated from dental plaque samples of 33 patients (62.3%) among 53 patients. 2. Of the isolates, some strains were not grown on MSB medium. 3. Serotype c S. mutans was found in 60.6%, serotype d was found in 30.3% of the patients who were known to harbor S. mutans. 4. Of. the isolates, serotype c isolates were most prevalent (43.8%), serotype d isolates were 25.0%, and serotype b, e, f and g isolates were also found but in lower frequencies. Serotype a S. mutans were not detected. 5. The correlation between serotype and biotype of the isolates was found in 78.6% of the typing cases. 6. Strains revealed ${\beta}$-hemolysis were in 52.1% of the isolates, strains produced yellow pigment were in 47.9% of the isolates, and with one exception, all the strains were belong to serotype c, e and f. 7. The majority of the isolates which revealed ${\beta}$-hemolysis appeared to be yellow pigmented, these isolates were belong to serotype c, e and f.