Immunological studies on Vibrio anguillarum

Nineteen strains of Vibrio anguillarum were examined by means of several immunological methods. Nine other strains belonging to the genera Vibrio, Aeromonas and Pseudomonas were also examined for comparison.Lipopolysaccharides were prepared from seven of the V. anguillarum strains. The lipopolysaccharides seem to be species-specific for V. anguillarum, not being detected in any of the other strains examined. Common antigens are also found in V. anguillarum and other species of marine bacteria.The strains of V. anguillarum fall into three different serological groups according to the type of lipopolysaccharide in the cell wall. One of the groups comprises only one strain, this strain being the only one not isolated from diseased fish.The lipopolysaccharides were used in an indirect haemagglutination test. Inhibition of this haemagglutination with tissue extracts from diseased fish can be used for practical purposes in the diagnosis of vibriosis.