Identification of some Japanese leptospiral strains as serotypes copenhageni and icterohaemorrhagiae by preciptin-absorption test in gel.

Nine strains of Leptospira belonging to the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroups isolated in Japan were identified by the precipitin-absorption test in gel. The results of the precipitin-absorption test matched closely with those of the agglutinin-absorption test. Two strains were identified as serotype copenhageni and 7 were serotype icterohaemorrhagiae. Strain Shibaura, which was thought to belong to serotype icterohaemorrhagiae and used in many laboratories in Japan, was corrected as belonging to serotype copenhageni.