Isolation of L-form of Yersinia pestis from wild rodents in an epizootic focus
Dunaev, G.S.; Zykin, L.F.; Cherchenko, I.I.; Klassovskiĭ, L.N.; Prozorovskiĭ, S.V.
Zhurnal Mikrobiologii Epidemiologii i Immunobiologii 8: 50-54
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0372-9311 PMID: 7180264 Document Number: 187792
Four Y. pestis cultures with unbalanced growth and 15 Y. pestis cultures in unstable L-forms were isolated from wild rodents Rhombomys opimus in the vicinity of lake Balkhash. Morphologically they were mainly represented by granular, spheroplast-like and filiform elements. When stained with luminescent serum, they acquired specific fluorescence; in indirect hemagglutination they yielded positive result. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of morphological elements characteristic of the process of L-transformation. After subculturing reversion to rod-like forms was observed in 13 Y. pestis strains.