Serological comparison of three milky disease isolates

Abstract Two European milky disease isolates, Bacillus fribourgensis and Bacillus popilliae melolontha , were compared serologically with Bacillus popilliae . A close relationship exists between all three pathogens. Double diffusion experiments and a complement fixation test suggest that the European milky disease pathogens are identical whereas B. popilliae shows distinct differences. Two antigens of the European isolates are not shared by B. popilliae , which has one specific antigen that is not present in B. fribourgensis or B. popilliae melolontha .