310
M. A. GERENCSER
antiserum, but the reciprocal reaction was negative. Gerencser and Slack
(1969) reported that 15 of 22 strains of A . viscosus stained with undiluted
Arachnia propionica serotype 2 conjugate but not with the same conjugate
at its working titre. Again the reciprocal reaction was negative.
Cross-reactions with other genera in the family Actinomycetaceae are
also infrequent. Holmberg and Forsum (1973) found no cross-reactions
between Rothia dentocariosa and Actinomyces species while Slack and
Gerencser (1969) found such cross-reactions to be limited to A . viscosus.
Undiluted R . dentocariosa ATCC 1793 1 antiserum stained 7 of 22 strains of
A. viscosus. In contrast, Bragg (pers. comm.) found strong cross-reactions
between some strains of R . dentocariosa and both A . israelii serotype 1 and
A. israelii serotype 2. Absorption of A . israelii serotype 1 antiserum with
A . israelii serotype 2 to make it serotype specific also removed the crossreaction with Rothia, but A . israelii serotype 2 antiserum required absorption with Rothia. No cross-reactions have been reported between
Actinomyces and either BiJdobacterium or Bacterionema (Lambert et al.,
1969; Slack et al., 1969; Holmberg and Forsum, 1973).
Cross-reactions with other genera include reactions with Propionibacterium and Corynebacterium pyogenes. Both A . israelii and Arachnia
propionica may cross-react with P . acnes. We find that some freshly isolated
strains of P. acnes stain with high dilutions of Arachnia propionica antiserum. Bragg (pers. comm.) found high-titred cross-reactions, requiring
absorption, between A . israelii serotype 1 and a strain of P . avidum.
Holmberg and Forsum (1973) found very weak cross-reactions between
A . israelii antiserum and P. acnes and no cross-reaction with P. avidum.
We have encountered cross-reactions between C. pyogenes and A . odontolyticus antiserum as did Bragg and Kaplan (1976). Holmberg and Forsum
(1973) did not find any cross-reactions between Actinomyces or Arachnia
and various species of Corynebacterium, Lactobacillus, Nacardia, and
Mycobacterium or with Leptotrichia buccalis and Streptomyces axureus.
The variation in results obtained by different investigators has been
pointed out to emphasise that each batch of FA reagents must be evaluated
for sensitivity and specificity and that information such as that in Tables
IX and X must be considered as only a guide to production of specific
reagents. Different or additional absorptions may be necessary to make any
particular lot of antiserum specific.
V. USE O F FA I N IDENTIFICATION
A. Identification of pure cultures
Slack, et al. (1961) first reported the use of FA for identifying and
grouping Actinomyces serologically. Later Slack and G erencser (1966,
M. A. GERENCSER
antiserum, but the reciprocal reaction was negative. Gerencser and Slack
(1969) reported that 15 of 22 strains of A . viscosus stained with undiluted
Arachnia propionica serotype 2 conjugate but not with the same conjugate
at its working titre. Again the reciprocal reaction was negative.
Cross-reactions with other genera in the family Actinomycetaceae are
also infrequent. Holmberg and Forsum (1973) found no cross-reactions
between Rothia dentocariosa and Actinomyces species while Slack and
Gerencser (1969) found such cross-reactions to be limited to A . viscosus.
Undiluted R . dentocariosa ATCC 1793 1 antiserum stained 7 of 22 strains of
A. viscosus. In contrast, Bragg (pers. comm.) found strong cross-reactions
between some strains of R . dentocariosa and both A . israelii serotype 1 and
A. israelii serotype 2. Absorption of A . israelii serotype 1 antiserum with
A . israelii serotype 2 to make it serotype specific also removed the crossreaction with Rothia, but A . israelii serotype 2 antiserum required absorption with Rothia. No cross-reactions have been reported between
Actinomyces and either BiJdobacterium or Bacterionema (Lambert et al.,
1969; Slack et al., 1969; Holmberg and Forsum, 1973).
Cross-reactions with other genera include reactions with Propionibacterium and Corynebacterium pyogenes. Both A . israelii and Arachnia
propionica may cross-react with P . acnes. We find that some freshly isolated
strains of P. acnes stain with high dilutions of Arachnia propionica antiserum. Bragg (pers. comm.) found high-titred cross-reactions, requiring
absorption, between A . israelii serotype 1 and a strain of P . avidum.
Holmberg and Forsum (1973) found very weak cross-reactions between
A . israelii antiserum and P. acnes and no cross-reaction with P. avidum.
We have encountered cross-reactions between C. pyogenes and A . odontolyticus antiserum as did Bragg and Kaplan (1976). Holmberg and Forsum
(1973) did not find any cross-reactions between Actinomyces or Arachnia
and various species of Corynebacterium, Lactobacillus, Nacardia, and
Mycobacterium or with Leptotrichia buccalis and Streptomyces axureus.
The variation in results obtained by different investigators has been
pointed out to emphasise that each batch of FA reagents must be evaluated
for sensitivity and specificity and that information such as that in Tables
IX and X must be considered as only a guide to production of specific
reagents. Different or additional absorptions may be necessary to make any
particular lot of antiserum specific.
V. USE O F FA I N IDENTIFICATION
A. Identification of pure cultures
Slack, et al. (1961) first reported the use of FA for identifying and
grouping Actinomyces serologically. Later Slack and G erencser (1966,