虽然风湿热的发病率在美国及绝大多数工业化国家里已明显降低,但从发展中或第三世界国家可以看到,它仍是世界上主要公共卫生危害之一。据估计在这些国家每年有1500～2000万新的病例。为了对风湿热有更清楚的了解,有必要复习链球菌的某些形态学特征及宿主对链球菌这些结构的免疫反 Although the incidence of rheumatic fever has significantly decreased in the United States and in most industrialized countries, it can be seen from developing or Third World countries that it remains one of the major public health hazards in the world. It is estimated that there are between 15 and 20 million new cases in these countries each year. In order to have a clearer understanding of rheumatic fever, it is necessary to review some of the morphological features of Streptococcus and the immunological responses of these hosts to streptococci