INVESTIGATIONS OF MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION. I. BACTERIOLOGICAL ASPECTS 1

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Abstract
The characteristics of 39 strains of meningocqcci of both epidemic and endemic. origin have been studied. The morphology, fermentations and oxidase reaction were typical. Quellung in specific antiserum was a satisfactory method for the rapid identification of Group I strains, and agreed in every instance with typing by agglutination. All except 2 of the Group I strains displayed a high virulence for mice. There was no significant difference between the virulence of nasopharyngeal and cerebrospinal fluid strains of Group I, between the Group I strains from cases and contact-carriers, nor between the Group I strains from epidemic and sporadic cases. Three of 5 Group II strains from the cerebrospinal fluids of cases were highly virulent for mice. No correlation was observed between the mouse virulence of strains from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients and the severity of the disease. Wide variation was found in the ability of different strains of meningococci to survive or grow in fresh normal human serum.

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