Interaction of Mycoplasma mobile 163K with erythrocytes

Mycoplasma (M.) mobile 163K isolated from fish was investigated for its hemadsorbing, hemagglutinating, and hemolysing capacities and for its ability to adhere to erythrocytes. Hemadsorption to the colonies of M. mobile occurred with ovine, bovine, equine, trout, and carp erythrocytes and was inhibited by treatment of the mycoplasmas with substances acting on proteins (pronase, trypsin, glutaraldehyde), heat, UV-irradiation and homologous antiserum. Hemadsorption could be prevented also by treatment of the erythrocytes with neuraminidase. In liquid medium ovine erythrocytes were agglutinated and afterwards lysed by M. mobile. The erythrocytes which were adsorbed to the colonies of M. mobile were finally lysed also. Darkfield preparations showed the ability of M. mobile to adhere to erythrocytes and also its hemagglutinating properties.