Isolation and Identification of Legionella pneumophila From Different Sources

This study includes the isolation and identification of Legionel/apneumophila from patient's sputum in different ages for both sexes inKomary and Rizgary Teaching -Hospital in Erbil city, in addition toaquatic samples frorri different sources, (652) samples were collected,specimens from patients sputum, ( 1 00) water samples from bathroom tapand 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 showerheads 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 someenzymatic activities such as protease, DNase, and starch hydrolysisenzymes, all isolates typed to eight biotypes and most of isolates werelocated 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 toadhere to the epithelial cells of buccal cavity, and it was observed that allof the isolates have the ability to adhere to the epithelial cells.The study also included the extraction and analysis oflipopolysaccharide (LPS) by using SDS -PAGE electrophoresis techniqueand the results showed that there were differences in the LPS bandsnumber and molecular weights between clinical and environmentalisolates.