Pathogenicity of piliated and encapsulated Bacteroides fragilis.

Of 20 isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group, only three were encapsulated (C+) and these induced abscesses in mice. After coinoculation with live, formalized or capsular material from other bacteria seven other isolates formed abscesses. The Bacteroides recovered from these abscesses were C+; those that had been inoculated with Klebsiella had pili-like and bacteriophage-like structures. Once encapsulated, the Bacteroides isolates induced abscesses when injected alone.