Close Association of Streptococcus sanguis Uncommon Serotypes with Behcet's Disease

Abstract

This is a description of the role of Streptococcus sanguis in the oral flora of patients with Behcet's disease (BD) in contrast to the flora of healthy controls. The proportion of S. sanguis in the flora of patients with BD was always higher than that of healthy and disease controls. The types of S. sanguis in the oral flora of the BD patients were uncommon ones. Agglutinating antibody titers against isolated strains of S. sanguis were higher in BD patients than in controls. When S. sanguis antigens were used in skin reaction, the erythema of skin in BD patients was greater than that in healthy controls. It is proposed that uncommon serotypes of S. sanguis may play a role in the pathogenesis of BD.