[Studies on the detection of Legionella pneumophila by the application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)].

DNA fragment of Legionella pneumophila, the PCR was performed with a pair of artificial synthesized primer. Results of agarose electrophoresis and EB staining showed that there was a 870 bp band shared by serogroups 1-14 of L.pneumophila. The sensitivity of PCR in detecting Legionella from water was 350cfu/ml, however, the specific DNA probe labeled with 32P was .43cfu/ml by blot hybridization. The positive rate of tissue specimens from infected guinea-pigs with Legionella pneumophila was 83.3% by PCR detection, and only 26.6% by bacteriological culture method. An outbeak caused by Lp10 was verified by PCR. The result showed that the PCR could detect the infection of Legionella rapidly, specifically and sensitively.