On the Existence of a Multiplicity of Races of B. Influenzae As Determined by Agglutination and Agglutinin Absorption

Abstract

In the general investigation of the bacteriology of the recent epidemic of influenza, carried out under the supervision of Dr. Wm. H. Park and Dr. Anna W. Williams, it was early seen that one of the most important questions was the identity or non-identity of the strains of B. influenzae from epidemic cases. Although the practically uniform presence of B. influenzae in actual cases suggested its etiological importance, the further demonstration was needed that the strains encountered were identical before a conclusion was possible. It would be difficult to conceive of a pandemic spreading from country to country, due to different races of a microörganism. Preliminary observations indicated that the relationship of the strains isolated could be determined most easily by agglutination and agglutinin absorption. It was found that agglutinating sera, active in dilutions of 1-800 to 1-1000, could be produced without great difficulty by intravenous injection of rabbits, starting with live or killed bacilli.