Abstract
Sera collected from 49 CF and 19 S were screened after one year and two years of follow-up for antibody against Legionella pneumophila polyvalent antigen pools by an immunofluorescence assay. 6 CF (12%) had high antibody titers (1:256-1:2048) to multiple strains of L. pneumophila. Five of these patients were retested after 1 year and 4 had persistently high titers. These high and persistent titers had never been observed by LCDC among sera received from other laboratories across Canada. Five CF (10%) had low positive antibody titers (1:64-1:128). The difference in seropositivity frequency in CF (11/49) vs S(0/19) was statistically significant (p<.01). Seropositive CF were significantly older and had significantly poorer FVC, FEV, and MMEF compared with seronegative CF(p<.01). No seroconversions were noted when interim sera from the two year period were tested in parallel. Absorption with a pool of 3 P. aeruginosa strains reduced titers 2-8 fold. A pool of 3 P. cepacia strains or single Pseudomonas species (obtained from the tested patient) reduced titers 0-4 fold. In conclusion, 22% CF demonstrated L. pneumophila seropositivity indicating past infection. Antibodies persisted over the period of study. Although patients were frequently colonised with P. cepacia the mixture of P. aeruginosa was the most efficient in reducing titers. The high non-specific L. pneumophila antibody titers may in part be explained by cross-reacting antibody to P. aeruginosa.
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Wang, E., Prober, C., Ewan, P. et al. LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA SEROPOSITIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF) AND SIBLING CONTROLS (S). Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 188 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00571
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00571
