Frequency of antistreptolysin o and antidesoxiribonuclease B as indicators of streptococcal infection in students from a teaching unit in Aragua State.

In this study, the frequency of antistreptolysin O (ASO) antibodies was determined through neutralization and nephelometry and antidesoxiribonuclease B (antiDNase B) antibodies through nephelometry in 177 students from a teaching unit located in the Francisco Linares Alcantara Municipality of Aragua State. The percentage of elevated ASO titers by neutralization obtained in the school children was 8.5% and by nephelometry 39,6%, showing that the nephelometry method detects a higher percentage of individuals with high titers. Regarding antiDNase B, 28.3% of the students showed titers over the normal value. School children with ages between 8 and 10 years showed the greatest percentage of elevated titers. The high ASO prevalence observed reveals that infection by S. pyogenes is important. The complications and sequels were not studied, due to which prevention and control measures should be addressed to prevent possible sequels. Considering that most of the students were asymptomatic, it is necessary to carry out studies to isolate S. pyogene, well as studies to establish the referential values for the various tests done in this study.