Detection of Yersinia enterocolitica O-antigens by double diffusion in agar and chemical characterization of lipopolysaccharides.

Double diffusion in agar showed that yersinia enterocolitica O-serotypes 3, 7, 8 and 9 each contained a type-specific precipitinogen. Serotype 6 contained several specific precipitinogens and was heterogeneous. The type-specific precipitinogens were shown to be lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Acid hydrolysis of the isolated LPS followed by gel filtration separated the material into two peaks, the first of which contained the serologically active fractions. The active fraction of serotype 3 contained relatively large amounts of a terminally linked deoxyhexose, probably 6-deoxy-L-altrose. Fucose was found to be present in serotype 7.