Fluorescent Antibody Technique for Identifying Isolates of Sphaerophorus necrophorus of Bovine Hepatic Abscess Origin

SUMMARY The application of the direct immunofluorescent technique to the identification of Sphaerophorus necrophorus was investigated. Both monovalent and polyvalent conjugates were prepared and evaluated. Excellent specificity was demonstrated for the system, since cross reactions with supposedly related and unrelated organisms were insignificant. Of 17 isolates of S. necrophorus of bovine hepatic abscess origin, 10 seemed to share common antigens within 4 different groups. Thus, in the direct identification of S. necrophorus, a polyvalent conjugate should be used to circumvent false negative reactions that could result with monovalent conjugates.