Studies on Fowl Cholera. II. The Correlation between Biochemic Classification and the Serologic and Immunologic Nature of Avian Pasteurella Multocida Strains

Rosenbusch and Merchant (7) demonstrated that the fermentative action of PasteureUlla multocida strains on xylose, arabinose, and dulcitol was correlated with the results of tube agglutination tests. Roberts (6) noted that the fermentative action of strains on these carbohydrates was correlated with immunologic type as determined by passive immunization of mice. This study was made to determine how the biochemic groups of avian P. multocida strains as based on fermentative action on xylose, arabinose, and dulcitol was related to their serologic and immunologic nature. Strains selected for the study were classified biochemically according to fermentative reactions as group I, II, or III. A rapid plate agglutination test was used in the serologic study. The immunologic study was made by active immunization of fowls.