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Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI106591

Neuraminidase activity in bacterial meningitis

Richard D. O'Toole, Louise Goode, and Calderon Howe

Department of Medicine, University of Washington, the Seattle Veterans Administration Hospital, Seattle, Washington 98108

Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York 10032

Find articles by O'Toole, R. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Washington, the Seattle Veterans Administration Hospital, Seattle, Washington 98108

Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York 10032

Find articles by Goode, L. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Washington, the Seattle Veterans Administration Hospital, Seattle, Washington 98108

Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York 10032

Find articles by Howe, C. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

Published May 1, 1971 - More info

Published in Volume 50, Issue 5 on May 1, 1971
J Clin Invest. 1971;50(5):979–985. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI106591.
© 1971 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published May 1, 1971 - Version history
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Abstract

The relation of neuraminidase to morbidity and mortality was examined in patients with Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcal, and pneumococcal meningitis. Ten strains of H. influenzae and eight strains of meningococci from infected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) did not elaborate neuraminidase. Each of 27 strains of pneumococci from infected CSF elaborated both neuraminidase and N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) aldolase. There was no correlation between amount of neuraminidase secreted in vitro and survival of patients.

Values for free and total NANA concentrations were derived from admission CSF samples of 63 patients with meningitis; 18 patients infected with Neisseria meningitidis, 10 with H. influenzae and 35 with Diplococcus pneumoniae. Mean values for total NANA were elevated in each type of bacterial meningitis; however, abnormal concentrations of free CSF NANA were detected only in 17 patients with pneumococcal meningitis. 11 of 18 patients with pneumococcal meningitis showing normal free CSF NANA concentrations were cured, whereas only 4 patients with abnormal free NANA levels survived without residua. Both coma and bacteremia occurred significantly more often among patients with elevated concentrations of free CSF NANA. The association of elevated concentrations of free CSF NANA with coma and with an adverse prognosis suggested that neuraminidase may be a factor in the pathogenesis of penumococcal meningitis.

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