A COMPARISON OF ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE AND PHAGE PATTERN WITH BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS STRAINS ISOLATED FROM HARES AND MINK

Abstract

Strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the nares of hares and mink were tested with the basic sets of human and bovine phages and with factor sera prepared against human staphylococci. Of 21 hare strains the 17 which belonged biochemically to the D biotype agglutinated strongly in h2 factor serum and were lysed by group II phages. Four hare strains and all 108 mink strains, which belonged biochemically to the E (canine) biotype, were not lysed by the phages even at RTD X 1,000. Serologically the four hare strains (probably of canine origin) contained the a5 antigen whereas only 17 per cent of the mink strains were typable, exhibiting weak reactions and no definite pattern.

A COMPARISON OF ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE AND PHAGE PATTERN WITH BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS STRAINS ISOLATED FROM HORSES

“…Similar poor results were obtained by serological typing of mink isolates (15), only 17 per cent of positive agglutinations, without any definite pattern, being exhibited.…”