Salmonella veneziana —A New Type

Abstract

The only culture of Salmonella veneziana studied was received from Captain J. H. Hill, M.C., 2nd Medical Laboratory. It was isolated from an apparently normal Italian civilian food handler in Venice. The microorganism agreed with the biochemical and tinctorial properties of the Salmonella. Acid and gas were produced from arabinose, galactose, glucose, maltose, mannitol, rhamnose, and xylose. Dulcitol, inositol, lactose, salicin, and sucrose were not fermented. Sodium citrate and dextro-tartrate were utilized. Gelatin was not liquefied. The bacterium produced hydrogen sulfide but did not form indole.On serological examination the 0 antigens were found to be identical with those of Salmonella aberdeen. S. veneziana removed all 0 agglutinins from S. aberdeen antiserum. Its 0 antigens are, therefore, XI.Formalized broth cultures of the microorganism were examined and a-/3 phase variation was detected. Phase 1 was flocculated to titer by serum derived from Salmonella bonariensis, phase 1. In agglutinin absorption tests phase 1 of S. veneziana reduced the titer of S. bonariensis, phase 1, antiserum to less than 200. The antigen of phase 1 of S. veneziana is i.Phase 2 of the bacterium was agglutinated to titer byserums containing agglutinins for antigens e ,n .... It was also agglutinated by e, h antiserum. When tested with absorbed serums possessing factors for h, n .. ., x, Z15, Z16, Z17, and zig, respectively, it was flocculated by n . . ., x, and Z16. Absorption of Salmonella abortus-equi, phase 2, antiserum by S. veneziana, phase 2, left agglutinins for the homologous strain as well as for the second phase of Salmonella glostrup. Absorption of Salmonella napoli, phase 2, antiserum by S. veneziana, phase 2, removed all the agglutinins for the homologous strain. Like S. napoli (Bruner and Edwards: Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med., 58, 289) the 3 phase of S. veneziana appears to be deficient in its antigenic components and may be expressed as e, n, x, Z16. -. S. veneziana is described and assigned the diagnostic formula of XI: i-e, n, x.... This is the third new type recognized among cultures recently isolated in Italy. The others were S. napoli and Salmonella italiana.