Leptospiral attachment to cultured cells.

Each virulent strain of copenhageni, canicola and pomona of Leptospira interrogans attached effectively to MDCK cells and primary dog kidney cells, while the avirulent or less virulent line of the same strain and avirulent strains belonging to the same serovars and the avirulent reference strains of other serovars did not. Inhibition of the attachment of the virulent copenhageni to MDCK cells was found in the presence of the homologous immunoglobulin G Fab fragment. Strains of L. biflexa attached to the animal cells, but they differed from those of virulent L. interrogans in their capability to attach to glass.