300
M. A. GERENCSER
T A B L E V
Serological cross-reactions between species of Actinomyces and Arachnia
F I T C conjugated antiserum
A.
A.
odontolyA.
A.
A.
Ar.
Antigens
bovis
ticus
israelii naeslundii viscosus propionica
-
-
-
-
-
A. bovis
W
A. odontolyticus
-
-
-
W
A. israelii
-
-
A. naeslundii
-
-
A. viscosus
-
-
-
m
w
0
0
W
W o r m
-
0
0 m o r n
w
w
-
-
-
-
Id
Ar. propionica
-
-
W , Positive at titre of serum, cross-reaction between A. naeslundii and A.
viscosus is serotype and strain variable.
0, Positive at less than working titre of serum, strain variable.
-, Negative.
A. bovis does not cross-react with other Actinomyces species or with
Arachnia. A. odontolyticus is also quite distinct serologically, showing only
a minor cross-reaction with one serotype of A. viscosus. We have not
studied A. myerii, but Holmberg and Nord (1975) found no crossreactions between A. meyerii and other species of Actinomyces. I n contrast,
A. israelii, A. naeslundii and A. viscosus have some common antigens and
show varying degrees of cross-reactivity. With a few exceptions involving
A. naeslundii and A. viscosus these cross-reactions are of low titre and
strain variable. Similar interspecies cross-reactions have been reported by
Lambert et al. (1967), Georg et al. (1972), Bellack and Jordan (1972) and
Holmberg and Forsum (1973). Dilution of the antiserum may be sufficient
to prevent these interspecies cross-reactions but for diagnostic purposes we
prefer to use absorbed sera.
Using indirect FA staining, Schaal and Pulverer (1973) found a wider
range of interspecies cross-reactions than is shown in Table V . For example,
A. bovis showed cross-reactions with both A. israelii and A. naeslundii.
Species-specific sera suitable for indirect FA staining were prepared by
extensive absorption.
Despite its close morphological resemblance to Actinomyces, Arachnia
propionica is serologically distinct and does not cross-react with any of the
Actinomyces species by either direct FA staining (Table V, Holmberg and
Forsum, 1973) or indirect FA staining (Schaal and Pulverer, 1973).
M. A. GERENCSER
T A B L E V
Serological cross-reactions between species of Actinomyces and Arachnia
F I T C conjugated antiserum
A.
A.
odontolyA.
A.
A.
Ar.
Antigens
bovis
ticus
israelii naeslundii viscosus propionica
-
-
-
-
-
A. bovis
W
A. odontolyticus
-
-
-
W
A. israelii
-
-
A. naeslundii
-
-
A. viscosus
-
-
-
m
w
0
0
W
W o r m
-
0
0 m o r n
w
w
-
-
-
-
Id
Ar. propionica
-
-
W , Positive at titre of serum, cross-reaction between A. naeslundii and A.
viscosus is serotype and strain variable.
0, Positive at less than working titre of serum, strain variable.
-, Negative.
A. bovis does not cross-react with other Actinomyces species or with
Arachnia. A. odontolyticus is also quite distinct serologically, showing only
a minor cross-reaction with one serotype of A. viscosus. We have not
studied A. myerii, but Holmberg and Nord (1975) found no crossreactions between A. meyerii and other species of Actinomyces. I n contrast,
A. israelii, A. naeslundii and A. viscosus have some common antigens and
show varying degrees of cross-reactivity. With a few exceptions involving
A. naeslundii and A. viscosus these cross-reactions are of low titre and
strain variable. Similar interspecies cross-reactions have been reported by
Lambert et al. (1967), Georg et al. (1972), Bellack and Jordan (1972) and
Holmberg and Forsum (1973). Dilution of the antiserum may be sufficient
to prevent these interspecies cross-reactions but for diagnostic purposes we
prefer to use absorbed sera.
Using indirect FA staining, Schaal and Pulverer (1973) found a wider
range of interspecies cross-reactions than is shown in Table V . For example,
A. bovis showed cross-reactions with both A. israelii and A. naeslundii.
Species-specific sera suitable for indirect FA staining were prepared by
extensive absorption.
Despite its close morphological resemblance to Actinomyces, Arachnia
propionica is serologically distinct and does not cross-react with any of the
Actinomyces species by either direct FA staining (Table V, Holmberg and
Forsum, 1973) or indirect FA staining (Schaal and Pulverer, 1973).