Vibriocidal antibodies induced byYersinia enterocoliticaserotype IX

Yersinia enterocolitica serotype IX has been found to stimulate the production of vibriocidal antibody against Vibrio cholerae, particularly in Inaba serotype, in experimental rabbits and infected man to a significant degree. This activity could be absorbed by both Inaba and Yersinia antigens from anti-yersinia sera, but Yersinia antigen could not absorb vibriocidal activity from the anti-cholera sera, indicating a unilateral relation.Vibrio agglutinating antibody, particularly against Ogawa, in anti-yersinia rabbit or human sera was found to be less liable to non-specific stimulation.V. cholerae, while removing vibriocidal antibody, could not absorb the Yersinia agglutinin from anti-yersinia sera, suggesting that there is a different determinant for these two types of antibody activities.The non-specific production of vibriocidal antibody by Y. enterocolitica type IX indicates the need for caution in the interpretation of the results of vibriocidal tests where such organisms are prevalent.