Rickettsial hemolysis: adsorption of rickettsiae to erythrocytes

The hemolysis of sheep red blood cells by Rickettsia prowazeki has been characterized. A requirement for the adsorption of the rickettsia to the erythrocyte was indicated. No indication of the production of a soluble hemolysin was observed. Neither adsorption nor hemolysis can proceed at 0 C. The hemolytic process is rapid with a half-time of less than 30 min, and both the rate and extent are proportional to the number of rickettsiae present.