Serological and molecular identification of Legionella spp. isolated from water and surrounding air samples in Italian healthcare facilities.

Autor: Montagna MT; Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology - Hygiene Section, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: mariateresa.montagna@uniba.it., Cristina ML; Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy., De Giglio O; Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology - Hygiene Section, University of Bari, Bari, Italy., Spagnolo AM; Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy., Napoli C; Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology - Hygiene Section, University of Bari, Bari, Italy., Cannova L; Department of Sciences for Health Promotion - Hygiene Section, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy., Deriu MG; Department of Biomedical Science - Hygiene Section, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy., Delia SA; Department of Biomedical Science and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy., Giuliano A; Department of Prevention Services of Hygiene and Public Health, ASL Salerno, Salerno, Italy., Guida M; Department of Biology, University of Napoli 'Federico II', Napoli, Italy., Laganà P; Department of Biomedical Science and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy., Liguori G; Department of Movement and Health Sciences, University 'Parthenope', Napoli, Italy., Mura I; Department of Biomedical Science - Hygiene Section, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy., Pennino F; Department of Public Health, University of Napoli, Napoli, Italy., Rossini A; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy., Tardivo S; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy., Torre I; Department of Public Health, University of Napoli, Napoli, Italy., Torregrossa MV; Department of Sciences for Health Promotion - Hygiene Section, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy., Villafrate MR; Unit 'Control Hospital Hygiene' University Hospital Policlinico 'P. Giaccone', Palermo, Italy., Albertini R; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, U.O. Medical Immunology, University Hospital of Parma, Italy., Pasquarella C; Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translation Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Environmental research [Environ Res] 2016 Apr; Vol. 146, pp. 47-50. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Dec 21.
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.12.015
Abstrakt: Background: Legionella is an intracellular microorganism living in natural and artificial aquatic environments. Although its transmission to humans is linked to the inhalation of contaminated aerosols, there is no validated air sampling method for the control and prevention of the disease. The aim of the present study was to provide more information on the distribution of Legionella spp. in indoor environments and to determine whether the same Legionella strains are isolated from air and water samples.
Methods: Ten healthcare facilities located in seven regions of Italy were enrolled. The serological typing of Legionella spp. from water samples and the surrounding air by active and passive sampling was assessed using polyvalent and monovalent antisera. Subsequently, the strains identified as Legionella pneumophila (Lpn) underwent molecular typing by sequence-based typing (SBT) using seven genes (flaA, pilE, asd, mip, mompS, proA, and neuA). The allelic profile number was assigned using the European Working Group for Legionella Infections-SBT database.
Results: Lpn serogroup 6 was the most prevalent serogroup; it was found simultaneously in the air and water samples of three different healthcare facilities. In the remaining seven hospitals, Lpn serogroups 1, 6, 7, 9, and 12 were isolated exclusively from water samples. The molecular investigation showed that Lpn strains in the water and air samples of each positive healthcare facility had the same allelic profile. Strains, identified as sequence types (STs) 728 and ST 1638+ST 1324, were isolated in two respective healthcare facilities, and a new strain, identified as ST 1989, was obtained in one healthcare facility.
Conclusion: The application of the SBT method allowed to verify the homology among Legionella strains from water samples and the surrounding air. The results showed that the same Lpn strains were present in the air and water samples, and a new Legionella strain was identified.
(Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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