GROUP ANTIBODIES IN FLUORESCENT TREPONEMAL ANTIBODY (FTA) TEST

[摘要] In a few cases, non-syphilitic human sera are reactive in FTA even after absorption with T. reiteri. The possibility of treponemal group antibodies not reacting with T. reiteri was examined. Rabbit antitreponemal immune sera and human sera were tested in FTA before and after absorption with various Treponema species. (T. reteri, T. kazan 5, T. budapest 4, T. refringens, T. phagedenis, T. minutum). Their absorptive properties varied with the individual sera, indicating the multiplicity of group antibodies and thereby the existence of at least 3 treponemal group antigens: shared by all treponemes studied, present only in T. refringens and in T. reiteri. In early syphilis, the bulk of FTA reactivity was due to group antibodies.