Moraxella bovis hemagglutinins: effect of carbohydrates, heating and erythrocytes.

Several properties of the adhesins of eight isolates of Moraxella bovis recovered from cattle suffering from infectious keratoconjunctivitis, were studied. Adhesions were detected through autoagglutination in saline and hemagglutination. Autoagglutinating strains agglutinated red blood cells of the chicken, rabbit, sheep and swine, but not those of the guinea pig. The adhesins were not inhibited by D-mannose or D-galactose and resisted heating at 100 degrees C for 15 minutes. Magnesium chloride at a final concentration of 10% inhibited autoagglutination and hemagglutination. The value of the hemagglutination test for monitoring synthesis of fimbriae by M. bovis, is discussed.