[Some properties of carrier strains of Listeria monocytogenes (author's transl)].

About 60 characteristics have been investigated in 7 hemolyzing and 12 nonhemolyzing strains of L. monocytogenes. From these investigations resulted inter alia that the organism grows well under strictly anaerobic conditions, esculin is split at 45 degrees C,NH3 is produced from peptone, but not from arginin, and H2S can be traced by sufficiently sensitive methods. All strains possess a lipase, muramidase, and deoxyribonuclease, the hemolytic ones only also a lecithinase. Besides, the hemolytic strains only dispose of experimental virulence and of a CAMP factor-like agent. The experimental animal of choice seems to be the conjunctivally infected guinea pig in which a generalized infection develops.