[Hemolytic properties of bacteria belonging to the Acinetobacter genus]

Direct and intermediate hemolytic activity of 526 strains of Acinetobacter was investigated. Their ability to produce lipase and lecithinase was also studied. Measurements were performed parallely on human, horse, sheep and bovine erythrocytes. Direct hemolytic activity was exhibited by 16% of tested strains (17 out of 24 strains of A. haemolyticus). Human, sheep and bovine erythrocytes were useful for testing the hemolytic activity of Acinetobacter. The hemolysis was occurring faster and was visible more frequently during incubation at 37 degrees C. Indirect hemolytic activity was observed in 88% of strains. Over 90% of strains were lipolytic after 24-48 hours which was independent of incubation temperature (22 and 37 degrees C).