The demonstration, by immunofluorescence, of Legionella pneumophila organisms in human lung tissue embedded in epoxy resin.

Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 has been demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence in human lung tissue fixed in 10% formal saline and embedded in epoxy resin. The organism was visualised using Rabbit serogroup 1 antibody and Sheep anti rabbit fluorescein conjugate. The fluorescent labelled organism was found distributed throughout the tissue with focal areas in alveolar spaces and also visualised by electron microscopy in the same tissue. This method therefore enables specific identification of the L. pneumophila organism with the antiserum and also affords the opportunity of studying the bacterium ultrastructurally in the same tissue.