title: Isolation of the Legionnaires' disease bacterium from environmental samples.
abstract: We analyzed 24 environmental samples collected in or near the Indiana Memorial Union, where an epidemic of Legionnaires' disease occurred in early 1978. We conducted fluorescent antibody analyses and culture on F-G and charcoal yeast extract agars of each sample directly; splenic tissue of guinea pigs inoculated with the sample; and yolk sacs from embryonated eggs inoculated with splenic tissue of guinea pigs injected with the sample. Legionnaires' disease (LD) bacterium was isolated from seven of the 24 samples: one water sample from the air-conditioner cooling tower of the Union; three water samples from a stream near the Union; and three mud samples from the same stream. The LD bacterium strains were of three different serotypes. These findings indicate that LD bacteria may be widespread in nature.
mesh_terms: D000389:Air Conditioning; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003470:Culture Media; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000382:microbiology*; D012703:Serotyping; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media