Clinical and serological studies in patients with Campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni infection: II. Serological findings.

The serological responses of 53 patients with Campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni enteritis were determined with formalinized, boiled and autoclaved antigen suspensions of four reference strains and the autologous isolate. Agglutinin titres of 400 or greater were found against both formalinized and boiled reference antigens in 64% of the patients. Using boiled reference antigens five seropositive patients were found who had not been detected with the formalinized reference antigens, and vice versa. Autoclaved antigens were less useful. The use of paired sera permitted the demonstration of a serological response in some additional patients, although their maximal titre did not exceed 200. The total number of patients with serological responses to reference antigens was thus 48 (91%). The use of autologous antigens detected only one further patient.