IDENTIFICATION OF PATHOGENIC PSEUDOMONADS BY EXTRACELLULAR ANTIGENS

Abstract

Production of a toxic, species-specific, extracellular antigen can be demonstrated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas pseudomallei, Pseudomonas caviae, and Pseudomonas reptilivora by the use of the cellophane plate technique. Antisera prepared with these species-specific extracellular antigens can be used to identify these species of pseudomonads by the technique devised by Elek (1948, Brit. Med. J.) for the in vitro toxigenicity test of Coryne-bacterium diphtheriae. The extracellular antigens of Pseudomonas aureofaciens, Pseudomonas chlororaphis and many strains of the hemolytic, lecithinase positive Pseudomonas fluorescens showed extensive cross reactions indicating close relationships of these species.