Lipopolysaccharides of Non-Cholera Vibrios Possessing Common Antigen Factor to 01 Vibrio cholerae

Abstract

01 Vibrio cholerae is divided into two major serological types, Ogawa and Inaba, on the basis of their heat stable somatic antigen (or 0 antigen). These two serotypes share group somatic antigen A. but can be separated by Ogawa factor B and Inaba factor C. This is generally accepted as so-called ABC concept for the O-antigenic structure of 01 V. cholerae (4, 11). Recently, three groups of non-cholera vibrios possessing common antigen factors of 01 V. cholerae have been isolated in Japan. First, a marine vibrio, Vibrio bio-serogroup 1875 Original was isolated from sea water in Osaka Bay. Besides its Inaba antigenic variant, so called Vibrio bio-serogroup 1875 Variant was isolated (13). Second, Vibrio fluvialis Kobe was isolated from imported squid in Kobe (14). Third, Vibrio cholerae bio-serogroup Hakata was isolated from sea water in Hakata Bay, Kyushu island (12). The last group, Hakata strain, has now become of current importance in Japan from the public health point of view, in particular, in quarantine administration. At least 31 strains of this group have already been isolated in Japan; 9 of them from imported squid and shrimp, and 22 from the environment. This will probably become a more important public health problem soon, because they may be misdiagnosed as 01 V. cholerae unless a polyclonal absorbed antiserum or monoclonal antibody for the single factor A of 01 V. cholerae is used. As long as present commercial diagnostic sera for 01 V. cholerae are used in practical bacteriological examination, it is impossible to distinguish 01 V. cholerae from this group. Antigenic formulae for their 0-antigenic structures were recently elucidated by Shimada and Sakazaki, National Institute of Health, Tokyo, Japan, by cross-agglutination and cross- agglutinin absorption test as shown in Fig 1.