[Detection of H-antibodies in the diagnosis of listeriosis].

The technique of H-antibodies determination in serodiagnosis of listeriosis used at present is capable of detection not only H-antibodies but also flagellar somatic antibodies in the sera. An attempt was made to increase the specificity of H-agglutinins. An experience in the preparation of pure H-antigen is described. However, it is impossible to detect positive H-agglutination either with the aid of a mixture of flagellae and latex or with pure H-antigen. After determination of H-antigen by the classic Widal reaction 405 sera sent to Rostok Institute of Medical Microbiology and Epidemiology because of suspected listeriosis were subjected to absorption with O-somatic antigen of listeria; as a result of which in 85.9% of the sera the amount of H-agglutinins decreased by 1-3 dilutions. Whereas before the exhaustion 90 sera had the H-titre of 1:321 and higher, only 15 such sera remained after the exhaustion.