Production of Staphylococcal anatoxin and development of a diagnostic test system

Abstract

In three small series a non-toxic, immunogenic form of staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin (α-toxin) was obtained. The purified anatoxin was precipitated and a diagnostics test system developed. Its activity, specificity, and other characteristics were studied. The test system is designed for rapid serological diagnosis of staphylococcal infection, as well as for the post-vaccination evaluation and quantification of antitoxic antibodies. In passive (indirect) hemagglutination reaction the normal titer of Staphylococcal antitoxic antibodies (IgG) in human serum varied among different individuals between 1:5 – 1:40. In clinical material the titer of antitoxic antibodies for infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus ranged from 1:160 to 1:1280. In animals, this titer is normally 1:40 - 1:160.