Serologic Variants of Leptospira Types Resulting from Growth in Immune Serum

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Abstract
Summary: Leptospira grippotyphosa, Leptospira pomona and Leptospira canicola have been subjected to prolonged cultivation in the presence of homologous immune sera. A marked reduction in agglutinability by the sera in which the strains were grown resulted. Comparison of the altered strain of L. grippotyphosa with the original culture by reciprocal absorption indicated that both loss and gain of antigenic components had apparently occurred. The change in serologic reactivity observed in these three types has remained stable for more than 8 months.