[Decarboxylase and hemolytic activity in Listeria]

Investigated were a great number of Listeria monocytogenes strains of 1/2a, 4b, 5, and 6 serotypes for the production of decarboxilase, hemolysin, and pathogenicity for albino mice. It was found that only representatives of 1/2a serotype (40 out of 93 studied strains) produced decarboxilase for glutamic acid. The hemolytic activity was evaluated by means of a Spekol after the hemolysis of sheep erythrocytes. A correlation was established between hemolytic activity and pathogenicity, consisting in that albino mice were killed in a higher percent by strains that showed higher hemolytic activity.