[The possibility of the serological differentiation of Clostridium species using enzyme immunoassays].

A method for serotyping and diagnosis of 30 selected Clostridia strains of 12 different species by an enzyme-immuno-assay using polystyrene balls as a solid phase is described and tested for its efficiency. The reference strains and the homologous test strains could be differentiated from the heterologous in principle. A reliable detection of the several serotypes of Cl. perfringens was not perfectly to achieve with the conjugates used here, cross-reaction with Cl. chauvoei could be removed by absorption. The conjugate of Cl. bifermentans reacted with Cl. sordellii and Cl. difficile too, and must be absorbed prior any diagnostic applications with vegetative cells of the corresponding strains. Concerning the antigenic relationships between the Clostridia strains used here, the results of Ellner and Green (7, 8) as well as of Poxton and Byrne (14) could be reconfirmed. Moreover the applied technique offers the possibility to come to a more detailed result concerning the degree of antigenic relationship. The developed method is a valuable tool for the differentiation of pathogenic Clostridia and within the group Cl. bifermentans/Cl. sordellii/Cl. difficile a rapid diagnosis at the species level could be achieved. Some limitations by cross-reactions are given, but results can be improved by absorption of the conjugates.