Nature 196, 497 - 498 (03 November 1962); doi:10.1038/196497a0

Fimbriæ and Hæmagglutinating Properties in Strains of Proteus

J. N. COETZEE, GABRIELLE PERNET & J. J. THERON

Department of Microbiology, University of Pretoria.
National Nutritional Research Laboratories, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria.

FIMBRIATION and the hæmagglutinating pattern of 21 strains of Proteus mirabilis, 10 of P. vulgaris and 20 strains each of P. morgani and P. rettgeri have been investigated. The strains of P. hauseri were those previously used¹ and were either in the Y, W or R phases². The morgani strains comprised 12 recently isolated local strains and 8 (Nos. 232, 235, 1707, 2815, 2818, 5845, 7381 and 10041) obtained from the National Collection of Type Cultures, Colindale, London. The P. rettgeri consisted of N.C.T.C. strains Nos. 7475, 7476, 7477, 7478, 7479, 7480, 7481 and 8893 and 12 local strains. Methods used were those of Duguid and Gillies³. Broth cultures were started from stock agar slopes and incubated at 37° C and at room temperature. Erythrocytes of fowl, sheep, horse, guinea pig, rabbit, man and ox were used and the hæmagglutination pattern of 20 serial 48 h broth cultures of each strain was determined.

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