Antibody detection and cross-reactivity among species and serogroups of Legionella by indirect immunofluorescence test

The purpose of the present study was to determine possible cross-reactivity between different serogroups or between different species by means of bacterial smears of individual L. pneumophila serogroups and several non-pneumophila Legionella spp. Using BIOCHIP slide we found a considerable frequency of cross-reactions with L. pneumophila serogroup 12 (88.4%) therefore BIOCHIP slide proved as useful method for identification of cross-reactivity between members of the Legionnellaceae.