11. SEROTYPING OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES AND RELATED SPECIES 39
with Listeria differs from the typical appearance with group B streptococci in that the outside line of the accentuated lysis does not run straight,
i.e. it does not run parallel to the streak of Staphylococcus, but has an
arrowhead shaped appearance. This means that it does not follow the
straight line of , 8 haemolysis of the staphylococcal streak but is curved
rather toward the streak itself. The strains formerly regarded as not
haemolysing, uniformly failed to show even a trace of haemolytic activity
in the CAMP test (Brzin and Seeliger, 1974).
IV. ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE AND SEROLOGICAL
I DENT1 FI CAT1 O N
A. Historical development
Seastone (1935) was the first to perform serological studies with different
strains of L. monocytogenes. I n agglutination and absorption experiments
he found a close relationship between cultures from human and animal
sources, with the exception of the original type strain of Murray et al.
(1926) which reacted quite differently. Similar results were obtained by
Carey (1936). Webb and Barber (1937) noted a great similarity in the
serological behaviour of Listeria strains tested by them. Schultz, Terry,
Brice and Gebhardt (1938) as well as Julianelle and Pons (1939) first drew
the conclusion that Listeria should be divided into two distinct serological
groups, which seemed to be connected with the origin of the strain. In
consequence a “rodent group” and a “ruminant group” were distinguished.
Listeria strains isolated from human specimens were found to belong
regularly to one or other of these two serogroups. These studies were
amplified by the fundamental work of Paterson using 54 Listeria strains
(Paterson, 1939). By serological analysis of somatic and flagellar antigens
and by use of the modern methods as employed by White and Kauffmann
on the Salmonella group, Paterson succeeded in recognising serologically
different 0 and H antigen patterns in L. monocytogenes.
Thus the species L. monocytogenes could be subdivided into four serotypes.
These were in no way connected to any particular host species. According
to Paterson “there does not appear any relationship between the bacteriological type and the zoological host species nor do the types appear to be
associated with a particular geographical origin. It will be noted that
members of each type have been isolated from man and that poultry
strains fall into types 1 and 4”. Three of the four different varieties could be
distinguished on the basis of their 0 antigens and the fourth (serotype 2)
was recognised by its different H antigen. After investigating serologically
several thousand Listeria strains from a wide variety of sources during the
past 25 years, Paterson’s original antigenic scheme of the species
with Listeria differs from the typical appearance with group B streptococci in that the outside line of the accentuated lysis does not run straight,
i.e. it does not run parallel to the streak of Staphylococcus, but has an
arrowhead shaped appearance. This means that it does not follow the
straight line of , 8 haemolysis of the staphylococcal streak but is curved
rather toward the streak itself. The strains formerly regarded as not
haemolysing, uniformly failed to show even a trace of haemolytic activity
in the CAMP test (Brzin and Seeliger, 1974).
IV. ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE AND SEROLOGICAL
I DENT1 FI CAT1 O N
A. Historical development
Seastone (1935) was the first to perform serological studies with different
strains of L. monocytogenes. I n agglutination and absorption experiments
he found a close relationship between cultures from human and animal
sources, with the exception of the original type strain of Murray et al.
(1926) which reacted quite differently. Similar results were obtained by
Carey (1936). Webb and Barber (1937) noted a great similarity in the
serological behaviour of Listeria strains tested by them. Schultz, Terry,
Brice and Gebhardt (1938) as well as Julianelle and Pons (1939) first drew
the conclusion that Listeria should be divided into two distinct serological
groups, which seemed to be connected with the origin of the strain. In
consequence a “rodent group” and a “ruminant group” were distinguished.
Listeria strains isolated from human specimens were found to belong
regularly to one or other of these two serogroups. These studies were
amplified by the fundamental work of Paterson using 54 Listeria strains
(Paterson, 1939). By serological analysis of somatic and flagellar antigens
and by use of the modern methods as employed by White and Kauffmann
on the Salmonella group, Paterson succeeded in recognising serologically
different 0 and H antigen patterns in L. monocytogenes.
Thus the species L. monocytogenes could be subdivided into four serotypes.
These were in no way connected to any particular host species. According
to Paterson “there does not appear any relationship between the bacteriological type and the zoological host species nor do the types appear to be
associated with a particular geographical origin. It will be noted that
members of each type have been isolated from man and that poultry
strains fall into types 1 and 4”. Three of the four different varieties could be
distinguished on the basis of their 0 antigens and the fourth (serotype 2)
was recognised by its different H antigen. After investigating serologically
several thousand Listeria strains from a wide variety of sources during the
past 25 years, Paterson’s original antigenic scheme of the species