[Antigenic structure of saprophytic leptospirae and their classification].

The authors present the results of study of the serological properties of 46 strains of saprophytic leptospirae of different origin. On the basis of the affinity of the antigenic structure detected in the cross microagglutination reaction (MAR) 38 strains under study were united into 8 serological groups; the rest 8 strains were serologically independent in this reaction. The fact that 9 strains of water leptospirae isolated in the Armenian SSR belonged to one serological group was proved in the cross MAR and the test of aglutinin adsorption. This serological group was new and was named L. armenica. Five individual serological types of saprophytic leptospirae were differentiated in its composition. Comparative study of the serological interrelations between the group of strains isolated in Armenia and the strains of some serological groups and serological types the closest serological connections were noted in the K-1030 (serological group Armenica) and Bovedo (serological group Andamana) strains. It is believed that the existing division of the saprophytic leptospirae into two serological groups (Semaranga and Andamana) required widening and supplement by new serological groups and serological types.