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Phenotypic variation amongst genotypically homogeneous Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates: implications for the investigation of outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

T. G. Harrison ,
N. A. Saunders ,
A. Haththotuwa ,
G. Hallas ,
R. J. Birtles  and
A. G. Taylor
T. G. Harrison*
Affiliation:
PHLS Legionella Reference Unit, Division of Microbiological Reagents and Quality Control, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, London NW9 5HT, UK
N. A. Saunders
Affiliation:
PHLS Legionella Reference Unit, Division of Microbiological Reagents and Quality Control, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, London NW9 5HT, UK
A. Haththotuwa
Affiliation:
PHLS Legionella Reference Unit, Division of Microbiological Reagents and Quality Control, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, London NW9 5HT, UK
G. Hallas
Affiliation:
PHLS Legionella Reference Unit, Division of Microbiological Reagents and Quality Control, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, London NW9 5HT, UK
R. J. Birtles
Affiliation:
PHLS Legionella Reference Unit, Division of Microbiological Reagents and Quality Control, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, London NW9 5HT, UK
A. G. Taylor
Affiliation:
PHLS Legionella Reference Unit, Division of Microbiological Reagents and Quality Control, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, London NW9 5HT, UK
*
Corresponding author and reprint requests: Dr T. G. Harrison, PHLS Legionella Reference Unit, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT.
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Summary

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One hundred and seventy-nine isolates of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, obtained from a site associated with an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, were examined by monoclonal antibody subgrouping, restriction fragment length polymorphism typing, restriction endonuclease analysis and plasmid content. Nine distinct phenotypes were detected but at the genotypic level all strains were closely related. The data presented indicate that phenotypic variation of a single parent strain can occur within an environmental site. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the investigation of outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 104 , Issue 2 , April 1990 , pp. 171 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

References

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