Monoclonal antibodies against Chlamydia psittaci.

Five monoclonal antibodies were prepared against Chlamydia (C.) psittaci strain Pigeon-1041 isolated from a feral pigeon in Sapporo. Reactions of these antibodies to chlamydiae were examined using five strains of C. psittaci and two strains of C. trachomatis in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, microimmunofluorescent test and complement fixation test. The antibodies were divided into two groups: three genus-specific (A2, D2, and I21) and two strain-specific (F2 and H9) antibodies. The antigenic determinant site of A2 was KIO4 sensitive, but those of D2, F2, and H9 were not affected greatly by KIO4 treatment. Nine C. psittaci strains from feral pigeons and 16 strains from budgerigars were classified into three groups and four groups, respectively, by reaction patterns against the monoclonal antibodies.