[Application of the serological clostridium assay in tumour diagnostics (author's transl)]

The suitability for serologic tumour diagnostics of the non-oncolysing strain Clostridium butyricum CNRZ 528 has been investigated. By introducing the transplantable Brown Pearce tumour of the rabbit and spontaneous tumours of the dog as test models the antibody production against clostridial rods--indicating malignant growth as had been proved with the Möse strain Cl. oncolyticum M55--has been evaluated. It could be established--utilizing the complement fixation test--that one serological method alone is not sufficient for obtaining clear-cut test results in anyone case. It is to be recommended that the indirect hemagglutination and the complement fixation tests ought to be combined. Our studies on specific clostridial antigens and on optimization of techniques will be continued.