Specimens from 490 patients with suspected legionellosis from many parts of New Zealand were studied. Most of these were sera, but 36 specimens including material from lungs, pleural fluid and sputa were also examined. The sera were tested for the presence of antibodies to Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 to 6 and Legionella micdadei. Serological evidence of legionellosis was found in 49 patients. Antibodies to L. pneumophila serogroup 6 predominated, while those to L. micdadei and L. pneumophila serogroup 1 were noted in smaller numbers. Antibodies to serogroups 2, 3, 4 and 5 of L. pneumophila were not often encountered.

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SUMMARYSera from healthy blood donors from different parts of New Zealand, collected between 1977 and 1980, were analysed by the microagglutination technique for antibodies against Brucella abortus. Populations from both urban and rural areas were studied. The technique was shown to be capable of handling the 3351 sera studied and thus to be a useful screening test to assess the immune status of large populations. The results demonstrated some of the effects on the human population of the successful bovine brucellosis eradication programme.

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