Bacterial adhesion of palatine tonsils epithelial cells in infectious mononucleosis

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the features of pharynx tonsils mucous membrane colonization by pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms using electron microscopic examination of pharynx palatine tonsils epithelium in patients with infectious mononucleosis and acute streptococcal tonsillitis. Materials and Methods. Two patients, i.e. a patient P. (12 years old) with a confirmed diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis, and patient A. (8 years old) with acute streptococcal tonsillitis diagnosis were examined. A bacteriological examination of mucus and epithelium scraping from the surface of the pharyngeal tonsils was conducted. Tissue samples were examined in the electron microscopy laboratory of the Lviv National University. Results and Discussion. 36 tonsils epithelial tissue micro preparations of patient A. and 41 micro preparations of patient P. were studied. Streptococcus pyogenes, Str. pneumoniae, Str. viridans, Сandida albicans, as well as non-pathogenic bacteria, Diphtheroides sp., Neisseria sp., and Corynebacterium spp. were identified as result of the bacteriological examination of mucus from the surface of the pharyngeal tonsils of the patient P.. Staph. aureus, Str. Viridans, and Str. pneumoniae were identified during a bacteriological examination of the patient A. Eosinophils with a two-segmented nucleus, specific granularity, phagocytosed spherical bacteria in the cytoplasm were detected during the histological examination of the materials taken from the surface of the patient with acute tonsillitis tonsils. Research shows that bacteria accumulate not only in the structure of extracellular detritus. Numerous bacteria accumulations were found in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells in the patient with infectious mononucleosis also. The cell's shape resembles a bunch of grapes. Conclusions. The electron microscopic examination showed differences in the coccal flora localization. The extracellular localization of bacteria in the patient with acute bacterial tonsillitis, and intraepithelial presence of the bacteria in the patient with tonsillitis during infectious mononucleosis were found.

Keywords

• infectious mononucleosis, children, bacterial tonsillitis, epstein-barr virus, bacterial adhesion