Plasmid profiles of clinical and environmental isolates of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1

Clinical and environmental Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates from a single water source in Columbus, Ohio, exhibited five different plasmid profiles. The multiplicity of plasmid profiles observed within a single geographic area and a skewed distribution of isolates bearing these plasmid profiles within this area suggest that plasmid analyses will be useful in the study of the epidemiology of Legionnaires disease and the environmental distribution of legionellae.