Online first
Current issue
Archive
Special Issues
About the Journal
Publication Ethics
Anti-Plagiarism system
Instructions for Authors
Instructions for Reviewers
Editorial Board
Editorial Office
Contact
Reviewers
All Reviewers
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
General Data Protection Regulation (RODO)
BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Environmental factors affecting the survival of
soil dwelling Legionella longbeachae in water
1
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Corresponding author
Mia Potočnjak
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2016;23(3):452-455
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Legionella longbeachae, a causative agent of Legionnaire’s disease, has often been associated with potting soil and gardening, a feature quite distinct from other Legionella species. The precise transmission mechanism is still unknown, although due to the ecological coherence of the soil and water there is a potential risk of infection by contaminated stagnant water in the garden.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to explore the ability of L. longbeachae to survive in stagnant tap water usually used for watering in gardens. The influence of different factors (temperature, pH and NaCl concentration) on L. longbeachae survival in stagnant tap water was also tested.
Results:
The result showed that L. longbeachae is viable in stagnant tap water over 100 days at 4°C and 25°C. The survival of L. longbeachae exposed to different pH and NaCl concentration suggests resistance to low pH values (pH2 and pH5) and all tested NaCl concentrations at temperatures lower than 25°C. The ability of L. longbeachae to persist in stagnant tap water should be taken seriously in the risk assessments as a possible hidden reservoir of infection.
Legionella longbeachae, a causative agent of Legionnaire’s disease, has often been associated with potting soil and gardening, a feature quite distinct from other Legionella species. The precise transmission mechanism is still unknown, although due to the ecological coherence of the soil and water there is a potential risk of infection by contaminated stagnant water in the garden.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to explore the ability of L. longbeachae to survive in stagnant tap water usually used for watering in gardens. The influence of different factors (temperature, pH and NaCl concentration) on L. longbeachae survival in stagnant tap water was also tested.
Results:
The result showed that L. longbeachae is viable in stagnant tap water over 100 days at 4°C and 25°C. The survival of L. longbeachae exposed to different pH and NaCl concentration suggests resistance to low pH values (pH2 and pH5) and all tested NaCl concentrations at temperatures lower than 25°C. The ability of L. longbeachae to persist in stagnant tap water should be taken seriously in the risk assessments as a possible hidden reservoir of infection.
REFERENCES (20)
1.
Koide M, Arakaki N, Saito A. Distribution of Legionella longbeachae and other legionellae in Japanese potting soils. J Infect Chemother. 2001; 7(4): 224–7.
2.
McKinney RM, Porschen RK, Edelstein PH, Bissett ML, Harris PP, Bondell SP, et al. Legionella longbeachae species nova, another etiologic agent of human pneumonia. Ann Intern Med. 1981; 94(6): 739–43.
3.
Montanaro-Punzengruber JC, Hicks L, Meyer W, Gilbert GL. Australian isolates of Legionella longbeachae are not a clonal population. J Clin Microbiol. 1999; 37(10): 3249–54.
4.
O’Connor BA, Carman J, Eckert K, Tucker G, Givney R, Cameron S. Does using potting mix make you sick? Results from a Legionella longbeachae case-control study in South Australia. Epidemiol Infect. 2007; 135(1): 34–9.
5.
Currie SL, Beattie TK. Compost and Legionella longbeachae: an emerging infection? Perspect Public Health. 2015;135(6):309–15.
6.
Steele TW, Lanser J, Sangster N. Isolation of Legionella longbeachae serogroup 1 from potting mixes. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1990; 56(1): 49–53.
7.
Asare R, Santic M, Gobin I, Doric M, Suttles J, Graham JE, et al. Genetic susceptibility and caspase activation in mouse and human macrophages are distinct for Legionella longbeachae and L. pneumophila. Infect Immun. 2007; 75(4): 1933–45.
8.
Gobin I, Newton PR, Hartland EL, Newton HJ. Infections caused by nonpneumophila species of Legionella. Rev Med Microbiol. 2009; 20(1): 1–11.
9.
Cramp GJ, Harte D, Douglas NM, Graham F, Schousboe M, Sykes K. An outbreak of Pontiac fever due to Legionella longbeachae serogroup 2 found in potting mix in a horticultural nursery in New Zealand. Epidemiol Infect. 2010; 138(1): 15–20.
10.
Cazalet C, Gomez-Valero L, Rusniok C, Lomma M, Dervins-Ravault D, Newton HJ, et al. Analysis of the Legionella longbeachae genome and transcriptome uncovers unique strategies to cause Legionnaires’ disease. PLoS Genet. 2010; 6(2): e1000851.
11.
Molofsky AB, Swanson MS. Differentiate to thrive: lessons from the Legionella pneumophila life cycle. Mol Microbiol. 2004; 53(1): 29–40.
12.
Fields BS, Benson RF, Besser RE. Legionella and Legionnaires’ disease: 25 years of investigation. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2002; 15(3): 506–26.
13.
Wadowsky RM, Wolford R, McNamara AM, Yee RB. Effect of temperature, pH, and oxygen level on the multiplication of naturally occurring Legionella pneumophila in potable water. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985; 49(5): 1197–205.
14.
Cervero-Aragó S, Rodríguez-Martínez S, Puertas-Bennasar A. Effect of Common Drinking Water Disinfectants, Chlorine and Heat, on Free Legionella and Amoebae-Associated Legionella. PLoS One. 2015; 1–18.
15.
Potočnjak M, Široka M, Rebić D, Gobin I. The survival of Legionella in rainwater. Int J Sanit Eng Res. 2012; 6(1): 31–6.
16.
Heller R, Höller C, Süssmuth R, Gundermann KO. Effect of salt concentration and temperature on survival of Legionella pneumophila. Lett Appl Microbiol. 1998; 26(1): 64–8.
17.
Whiley H, Bentham R. Legionella longbeachae and legionellosis. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011; 17(4): 579–83.
18.
Ohno A, Kato N, Yamada K, Yamaguchi K. Factors influencing survival of Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 in hot spring water and tap water. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2003 May; 69(5): 2540–7.
19.
Katz SM, Hammel JM. The effect of drying, heat, and pH on the survival of Legionella pneumophila. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 1987; Jan;17(3): 150–6.
20.
States SJ, Conley LF, Kuchta JM, Oleck BM, Lipovich MJ, Wolford RS, et al. Survival and multiplication of Legionella pneumophila in municipal drinking water systems. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1987; 53(5): 979–86.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 1898-2263 |
| ISSN: | 1232-1966 |
Improvement of visual identification of the journal - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher Education allocated to the activities of disseminating science.
Generation of the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher
© 2006-2024 Journal hosting platform by Bentus
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
