Hemagglutinins of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca.

The occurrence and characteristics of hemagglutinins were investigated in 310 Klebsiella strains (195 K. pneumoniae- and 115 K. oxytoca-strains). Mannose-sensitive (MS)-hemagglutinins as well as Mannose-resistant (MR/K)-hemagglutinins could be demonstrated, only 13 Klebsiella-strains were not able to hemagglutinate. MS-hemagglutinins were much more often found in K. pneumoniae- than in K. oxytoca-strains, whereas the MR/K-hemagglutinin-frequency was equally high. Features (resistance to formaldehyde, trypsin, pronase, glycosidases, sodium metaperiodate and heating) and pathogenic significance of these hemagglutinins (fimbriae) were discussed.