Isolation of Legionella anisa Using an Amoebic Coculture Procedure

Conventional diagnostic tests for legionellosis were negative for a 61-year-old immunocompromised man with pneumonia. However, coculture of a sputum sample with Acanthamoeba polyphaga amoebae led to the recovery of Legionella anisa. This procedure may be a sensitive and convenient diagnostic method, especially for non-Legionella pneumophila species infections that can be diagnosed only by culture.