Rapid identification of Legionella species from a single colony by gas-liquid chromatography with trimethylsulphonium hydroxide for transesterification.

Transesterification of bacterial fatty acids to methyl esters with trimethylsulphonium hydroxide (TMSH) was compared with a conventional method for the identification of Legionella species by capillary gas chromatography. There was an extensive coincidence in the gas chromatographic profiles of bacterial fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) obtained by the two methods. However, the TMSH procedure needs less initial material and is much more simple and rapid. The chromatographic pattern of FAMEs obtained from a single colony is sufficient for the identification of the genus Legionella, and L. pneumophila can be clearly distinguished from other Legionella species.