title: Detection of Legionella pneumophila in environmental water samples using a fluorescein conjugated monoclonal antibody.
abstract: Sixty-three environmental water samples from various sources were examined for the presence of Legionella pneumophila with a commercially available direct fluorescent monoclonal antibody (GS), an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and culture. GS detected L. pneumophila in 94% and 100% of environmental water samples which were culture and IFAT positive for L. pneumophila, respectively. IFAT detected 69% of L. pneumophila culture positive samples. Cultures of L. pneumophila serogroups 1 to 12, 14 and non-L. pneumophila bacteria which may be found in water, and bacteria containing non-specific binding proteins, were stained by GS and IFAT. GS identified all serogroups of L. pneumophila and did not cross react with any non-L. pneumophila bacteria. L. pneumophila in environmental samples was easy to detect against a clear dark background when stained with GS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Liverpool.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makin
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hart
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007106:Immune Sera; D007875:Legionella / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D005452:Fluoresceins; D007106:Immune Sera