[Detection of Rhodococcus equi antibodies in human serum]

The authors investigated in sera of patients with pneumonia the presence of antibodies against the equi factor Rhodococcus equi. For examination they used agar immunodiffusion and a test for neutralizing the equi factor. Some 110 sera of different donors were examined. In agar immunodiffusion they used the equi factor as antigen either in the separated form or equi factor produced by the growing strain of R. equi. The neutralization test was implemented on agar media with red blood cells sensitized with staphylococcal beta-haemolysin. In all serological tests 27 sera reacted positively only by precipitation 30 sera, while 53 sera did not contain antibodies against the equi factor. The authors discuss the impact of the assembled results and the possible participation of R. equi in human disease.