Isolation and Identification of Legionella pneumophila From Different Sources

Abstract

This study includes the isolation and identification of Legionel/a pneumophila from patient's sputum in different ages for both sexes in Komary and Rizgary Teaching -Hospital in Erbil city, in addition to aquatic samples frorri different sources, (652) samples were collected, specimens from patients sputum, ( 1 00) water samples from bathroom tap and shower heads and other (72) water samples from cooling devices.From the patients sputum samples, (20) isolates with percentage (8.3%) were obtained, while ( 19) isolates ( 19%) from bathroom tap and shower heads and (11) isolates (15.27%) from cooling devices were isolated.All isolates were identified depending on morphological, cultural, and biochemical characteristics. Depending on the results of some enzymatic activities such as protease, DNase, and starch hydrolysis enzymes, all isolates typed to eight biotypes and most of isolates were located in biotype I . Also all isolates were gave positive reactions forproduction of lipase, lecithinase, and ~ -lactamase. The present study also involves the investigation of its ability to adhere to the epithelial cells of buccal cavity, and it was observed that all of the isolates have the ability to adhere to the epithelial cells.The study also included the extraction and analysis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by using SDS -PAGE electrophoresis technique and the results showed that there were differences in the LPS bands number and molecular weights between clinical and environmental isolates.

Keywords

• legionella pneumophila
• specimens
• biotype