Identification of Moraxella bovis by using a monoclonal antibody to a lipopolysaccharide epitope.

A monoclonal antibody to the lipopolysaccharide of Moraxella bovis is described. In an indirect fluorescent-antibody test, this monoclonal antibody reacted with 39 of 39 strains of M. bovis tested and did not react with 26 nonfermenting gram-negative coccobacilli other than M. bovis. When used in an indirect fluorescent-antibody test, it proved useful for rapid and easy identification of M. bovis.