Differentiation of serologically related serogroups of Legionella pneumophila

Abstract

Immune sera of different laboratory animals were studied in comparative tests for their differentiating ability in respect of closely related serogroups of Legionella pneumophila. Strains of serogroups 3 and 6, not distinguishable using rabbit sera, were found to be easily differentiated by mouse immune sera. Guinea pig and hamster sera revealed a lower differentiating ability. Concerning the differentiation of serogroups 5 and 8 none of the tested animals produced group-specific antibodies only. The typical coagglutination of serogroup 4 found regularly in rabbit immune sera against serogroup 8, in contrast to serogroup 5 sera, can be considered as an additional indicator to be used for differentiation of the two serogroups.