[Study of Legionella pneumophila strains isolated from environmental objects]

The paper presents the results of studying the biological properties of Legionella pneumophila strains isolated from environmental objects. Elective legionellosis medium (ELM) has been found to be suitable for the isolation of the causative agent from the starting material and to be as sensitive as CYE (Oxoid company) containing growth and selective additives. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a home-produced commercial test system used to detect L. pneumophila DNA enables identification of the causative agent, including its species. Hyperimmune sera against L. pneumophila 1-7 serogroups used in slide-agglutination and agglutination, as well as a series of co-agglutinating diagnosticums for legionellosis 1-7 serogroups make it possible to identify even the serogroups of L. pneumophilla. Comparative analysis of the virulence of L. pneumophila cultures in vivo and in vitro allows recommendation that practical laboratories should employ a simple NaCl resistance test, which can be used as a guide virulence test.