[Experience with Neisseria lactamica (author's transl)].

The authors have performed a detailed study of the presence of a new microbial species, Neisseria lactamica which even recently had still been classified among the nontypable Neisseria meningitidis strains. An examination of the spread of Neisseria strains among the healthy population of this country revealed 1.6% to be carriers of Neisseria lactamica as compared with 4.7% being carriers of Neisseria meningitidis. From the material examined, the highest number of Neisseria lactamica carriers was found among the 0-1 year age group (5.9%) whereas the maximum number of Neisseria meningitidis carriers was found in the 25-34 year age group (11.1%). The simultaneous identification of N. meningitidis and N. lactamica in exceptional cases means a new and important observation.