Identification

Identifying Legionella spp. excluding Legionella pneumophila. (See L. pneumophila Guide to Services)

Pure cultures of clinical isolates or environmental isolates associated with clinical illness.

BCYE plates, slants, or charcoal transport swabs are acceptable. Isolated colonies on BCYE plate are preferred.

Store samples between room temperature and 37^oC until shipped for testing. Ship at room temperature.

Shipping of specimens shall be done by a TDG certified individual in accordance with TDG regulations. For additional information regarding classification of specimens for the purposes of shipping, consult either Part 2 Appendix 3 of the TDG Regulations or section 3.6.2 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations as applicable.

Suspected Legionnaires' Disease or Pontiac Fever.

Completed Special Bacteriology requisition form detailing all patient information and relevant clinical information. If possible, attach lab results that have already been done at local or provincial laboratories.

All patient and strain history must be included. Detection in clinical material available upon special request only. Please contact the Special Bacteriology laboratory for approval before sending specimens.

Identification is done by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, mip gene sequencing, and any other relevant tests deemed appropriate for the bacterial identification at the discretion of the Special Bacteriology Laboratory.

25 calendar days. In cases where staff or resources are limited final report may be delayed and status of request will be forwarded in a preliminary report. Final report is sent once all appropriate tests are complete.

1. Wilkinson, H. W. 1987. Hospital-Laboratory Diagnosis of Legionella infections. Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA.
2. Isenberg, Henry D., Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, "Direct Immunofluorescent-Antibody Examination for Legionella spp.," Section 9.5, American Society for Microbiology, 1992
3. Bernard, K. A., M. Bellefeuille, and E. P. Ewan. 1991. 01. Cellular fatty acid composition as an adjunct to the identification of asporogenous, aerobic gram-positive rods. J. Clin. Microbiol. 29:83-89
4. Fry, N. K., S. Warwick, N. A. Saunders, and T. M. Embley. 1991. May. The use of 16S ribosomal RNA analyses to investigate the phylogeny of the family Legionellaceae. J. Gen. Microbiol. 137:1215-1222
5. Ratcliff, R. M., J. A. Lanser, P. A. Manning, and M. W. Heuzenroeder. 1998. Jun. Sequence-based classification scheme for the genus Legionella targeting the mip gene. J. Clin. Microbiol. 36:1560-1567