Abstract
In the previous papers, the organisms isolated from diseased fishes had been identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis and the serotyping in them was reported.
In this paper, the serological relationship between the isolates and Tachikawa strains was investigated by cross-agglutination test, cross-absorption test and gel precipitation technique.
The common antigens were observed between the isolates and Tachikawa strains. All isolates except 110-2 and K110-1 were considered to differ from Tachikawa strains in antigenic patterns examined by agglutination techniques. The factor sera which had been previously prepared against the isolates reacted with the hetelogous antigens of Tachikawa strains. All isolates except 110-2 and K110-1 formed the precipin lines different from Tachikawa strains.
On the basis of the results obtained, it is concluded that the isolates originated from water environment or fishes rather than from human, because the antigenic patterns of the isolates are considered to be different from Tachikawa strains.
