VI. IDENTIFICATION OF ACTINOMYCES AND A R A C H N I A
299
incident light (Ploem) illuminator and the filter combination 2 x KP 490,
K 510.
Slides are examined and graded visually, 1 to 4 + fluorescence, at each
dilution of the serum tested. The titre of a conjugate is the highest dilution
showing 4+ fluorescence. T h e working titre is one, two-fold dilution less
than this titre.
B. Reactions of Actinomyces species and Arachnia propionica
T h e number of antigens involved in FA reactions of Actinomyces and
Arachnia and their chemical composition are not known, but they are
generally thought to be cell wall antigens. Cisar et al. (1978) have demonstrated antigens on the fine fibrils found on the surface of A. viscosus using
an indirect peroxidase-labelled antibody technique. Such surface antigens
could be involved in FA reactions. There is no evidence that the extracellular polysaccharides produced by some Actinomyces play a role in FA
serotyping.
Although Reed (1972) reported that the major cell wall antigen of one
strain of A. viscosus was a polypeptide, most studies have found the major
cell wall antigens to be neutral carbohydrates (Bowden and Hardie, 1973;
Bowden et al., 1976). Bowden et al. (1976) demonstrated that Actinomyces
have more than one cell wall carbohydrate determinant and that charged
antigens may also be associated with the cell wall. The results of FA
studies and serological studies using various soluble antigens, suggests that
at least some of the same antigens are detected in the different systems
(Lambert et al., 1967; Slack et al., 1969; Bowden and Hardie, 1973).
Levine et al. (1978) demonstrated identical antigenic determinants on
three antigens of A. viscosus (ATCC 19246) which were adherent to the
cells and secreted into the medium.
Actinomyces species have been placed into six serological groups on the
basis of FA reactions (Slack and Gerencser, 1975). These serological
groups designated by capital letters were found to correspond to species
as determined by other criteria. Therefore species names are generally
used rather than serogroup designations. T h e serogroups are as follows;
group A-A. bovis; group B-A. naeslundii; group C-A. eriksonii;
group D-A. israelii; group E-A. odontolyticus and group F-A. viscosus.
Group C may be eliminated from this serological grouping since A.
eriksonii has been reclassified as Bijidobacterium.
1. Unabsorbed conjugates
The results which we have obtained with Actinomyces and Arachnia are
shown in Table V. The interspecies cross-reactions are shown in this table
without regard to serotypes within the species which will be discussed later.
299
incident light (Ploem) illuminator and the filter combination 2 x KP 490,
K 510.
Slides are examined and graded visually, 1 to 4 + fluorescence, at each
dilution of the serum tested. The titre of a conjugate is the highest dilution
showing 4+ fluorescence. T h e working titre is one, two-fold dilution less
than this titre.
B. Reactions of Actinomyces species and Arachnia propionica
T h e number of antigens involved in FA reactions of Actinomyces and
Arachnia and their chemical composition are not known, but they are
generally thought to be cell wall antigens. Cisar et al. (1978) have demonstrated antigens on the fine fibrils found on the surface of A. viscosus using
an indirect peroxidase-labelled antibody technique. Such surface antigens
could be involved in FA reactions. There is no evidence that the extracellular polysaccharides produced by some Actinomyces play a role in FA
serotyping.
Although Reed (1972) reported that the major cell wall antigen of one
strain of A. viscosus was a polypeptide, most studies have found the major
cell wall antigens to be neutral carbohydrates (Bowden and Hardie, 1973;
Bowden et al., 1976). Bowden et al. (1976) demonstrated that Actinomyces
have more than one cell wall carbohydrate determinant and that charged
antigens may also be associated with the cell wall. The results of FA
studies and serological studies using various soluble antigens, suggests that
at least some of the same antigens are detected in the different systems
(Lambert et al., 1967; Slack et al., 1969; Bowden and Hardie, 1973).
Levine et al. (1978) demonstrated identical antigenic determinants on
three antigens of A. viscosus (ATCC 19246) which were adherent to the
cells and secreted into the medium.
Actinomyces species have been placed into six serological groups on the
basis of FA reactions (Slack and Gerencser, 1975). These serological
groups designated by capital letters were found to correspond to species
as determined by other criteria. Therefore species names are generally
used rather than serogroup designations. T h e serogroups are as follows;
group A-A. bovis; group B-A. naeslundii; group C-A. eriksonii;
group D-A. israelii; group E-A. odontolyticus and group F-A. viscosus.
Group C may be eliminated from this serological grouping since A.
eriksonii has been reclassified as Bijidobacterium.
1. Unabsorbed conjugates
The results which we have obtained with Actinomyces and Arachnia are
shown in Table V. The interspecies cross-reactions are shown in this table
without regard to serotypes within the species which will be discussed later.