Rapid diagnosis of intestinal Bacteroides species by means of the immunofluorescence.

Rapid methods serving the detection of intestinal Bacteroides species in clinical specimens are of great significance. For this purpose, an identification of the species is possible at present only by means of immunofluorescence (IF). Using preparations of antigens of different intestinal Bacteroides species (B. fragilis, B. thetaiotaomicron, B. uniformis, B. ovatus, and B. distasonis) as well as immune sera prepared against them, the presented results have shown the possibility of specific identification of the species involved by means of direct and indirect IF, respectively. However, it could be demonstrated that the direct IF results in a more brilliant appearance of the bacteria than the indirect procedure. Convincing results could be obtained also in the investigation of clinical specimens by means of the direct IF using a pool of conjugated immunoglobulin fractions (sensitivity 88%, specificity 100%). Therefore, the direct method to detect intestinal Bacteroides species by IF should be preferred.