ACTA VBT.BRNO.55.l9B6: 183-190 ANTIGBNIC CHARACTBRS OF CAMP-FACTORS PRODUCBD BY DIFFERBNT STRAINS OF STRBPTOCOCCUS AGALACTIAB

5 k a 1 k a B.: AIlUge.n.ic CluvutcteJt6 08 CAMP-8actoll.4 Pltoduce.d by V~88e.Jte.At ~ 08 StJte.ptoCOCCU6 agalactiae.. Acta Vet. Brno. 55. 1986: 183-190. Antigenic relations of CAMP-factors produced by different strains of StJte.ptoCOCCU6 ag~ were studied within the framework of this species. Prepurified foraa of CAMP-factors produced by the serotypes la, lb. Ic. II. III X. and R were used to prepare antisera by repeated intravenous injections into rabbits. Two techniques of precipitation were used for serological tests. namely the agar immunodiffusion with prepurified CAMP-factors as antigens and the modified Elek-ouchterlony tast employing the native fora of this exosubstance. CAMP-Factors gave positive precipitation with homologous and heterologous rabbit antisera. Three precipitation lines were formed in the cases of homogeneity. one of thea beeing very conspicuos, and two lines only originated when CAMP-factor and antiserum were heterologus. As s rule these two lines were faint. Our results proved existence of both. specific and coaaon antigenic fractions in CAMP-factors. The Elek-Ouchterlony test was carried out for investigation of 300 S. agalactiae. strains. based on serotyping of their CAMP-factors. All strains were isolated by us from clinical .. terials. and they were tested with rabbit antisera to CAMP-factors of the serotype strains. Among 150 strains from humans, CAMP-factors rescted mostly in the saae way ss those of strsins Ic and III. among 150 strains from bovine udders. in the same wsy ss CAMP-factors of strsins X snd R. ruLtive. and plte.pWr.i8~e.d CAMP-8aWII.4, uJtOtyPfA 08 StJte.ptoCOCCU6 agalacUae., CAMP-8aWIl an.ti6e.Jt4. ag4ll .u.utocUaau.6~on, Ue.ItOuchte.Jltony teAt. The exosubstance of S. agalactiae.. cslled CAMP-fsctor (P u 1 s for d 1954) is characterized by its synergistic hemolytic reaction with stsphylococcal beta toxin (C h r i s tie et al. 1944). or with corynebacterial phospholipase D (F r a s a r 1964; 5 k a 1 k a et a1. 1979b) on sheep or bovine erythroc·ytes. This synergistic action was explained either by lipase activity of CAMP-factor (K arC h 0 u dry 1978) or by its binding to ceramide liberated by the prior action of staphylococcal sphingomyelinase on sheep erythrocytes (B e r nh e i mer et al. 1979). Evidently, CAMP-factor is produced by all S. agalacUae. strains. even during their growth in the L-phase (5 k a 1 k a et al. 1979b; Phi IIi p s et al. 1980; Flo r e 8 and Fer r i e r i 1983). Antigenicity of CAMP-factor was described (B row n et al. 1974; 5 k a 1 k a et al. 1980; Flo res and Fer r i e r i 1983). as well as its toxic and even lethal effect for rabbit and mouse (5 k a 1 k a and 5 a 0 1 a 1981). The CAMP-factor producing streptococci belong to Lancefield group B according to the antigen pre.ent in their cells (L a n c e fie 1 d 1933). nevertheless. a serological subdivision to types i. po.sible within this group (L a n·c e fie 1 d 1934; Pat t i • 0 n et al. 1955; W ilk ins 0 nan d Moo d y 1969; J eli n k 0 v, 1983 a.b; Hen ric h sen et al. 1984). The investigation of antigenicity of CAMP-factors produced by different S. agalactiae. strains. and their diagnostical employment va. the topic of the present study.