A study of Legionnaire's disease in Zambia

Abstract

Legionnaire's disease has only rarely been reported in Africa. Following a case of pneumonia which was suggestive of Legionnaire's disease, a serological survey of people in the same community showed a titre of 1:256 or more in 10% of 73 sera examined by the indirect fluorescent antibody test using heat-inactivated antigen. However, on retesting using formolized yolk-sac antigen these results could not be substantiated. A further study of 105 patients with pneumonia failed to show a rising antibody titre using acute and convalescent serum.