How many species of Legionella are there?
Currently, the Legionella genus includes 52 species and more than 70 different serogroups, and more than 20 species have been proven to be causative agents of Legionnaires’ disease (LD). The species Legionella pneumophila accounts for approximately 90% of confirmed cases of legionellosis, and L.
Which species of Legionella is most responsible for Legionnaires disease?
Legionella pneumophila species pneumophila serogroup 1 being the most serious and responsible for the majority of infections. As the name suggests, it can cause pneumonia along with sickness and diarrhoea.
What organism causes legionellosis?
The bacterium Legionella pneumophila is responsible for most cases of Legionnaires’ disease. Outdoors, legionella bacteria survive in soil and water, but rarely cause infections. However, legionella bacteria can multiply in water systems made by humans, such as air conditioners.
Is Coccobacillus a Legionella?
Legionella spp. are slender, aerobic, noncapsulated, nonspore-forming, pleomorphic gram-negative coccobacilli. They may stain poorly in clinical material but can be filamentous in older cultures.
How many serogroups of Legionella pneumophila are there?
Legionella pneumophila is the species responsible for ≈90% of human cases of infection. L. pneumophila is divided into 15 serogroups, among which serogroup 1 is the most prevalent disease-causing variant (1).
Is severe pneumonia a type of Legionella?
Legionella bacteria can cause a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) called Legionnaires’ disease. Legionella bacteria can also cause a less serious illness called Pontiac fever.
What type of bacteria is Legionella pneumophila?
A member of the genus Legionella, L. pneumophila is a Gram negative aerobic, flagellated, non-spore forming bacteria. It is pathogenic, known to be the cause of Legionnaires’ Disease, a severe, often deadly form of pneumonia.
How is legionellosis diagnosed?
The most commonly used laboratory test for diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease is the urinary antigen test (UAT), which detects a molecule of the Legionella bacterium in urine. If the patient has pneumonia and the test is positive, then you should consider the patient to have Legionnaires’ disease.
How can legionellosis be prevented?
Legionella can grow in the windshield wiper fluid tank of a vehicle (such as a car, truck, van, school bus, or taxi), particularly if the tank is filled with water. To prevent growth and spread of Legionella, use only genuine windshield cleaner fluid and follow the vehicle manufacturer recommendations, if available.
Can Legionella be cultured?
Culturing specimens can detect Legionella species and serogroups that the urinary antigen test does not. Comparing clinical and environmental isolates using serologic and molecular techniques can help identify the source in Legionnaires’ disease outbreak investigations.
Is Legionnaires disease a virus or bacteria?
About the Disease Legionella bacteria can cause a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) called Legionnaires’ disease. Legionella bacteria can also cause a less serious illness called Pontiac fever.
What antibiotics treat Legionnaires disease?
Mild Legionnaires disease can be treated with a single oral antibiotic regimen that have activity against legionella pneumophila including fluroquinolones such as levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin, macrolides like azithromycin, clarithromycin.
Is Legionella a causative agent of community-acquired and nosocomial legionellosis?
In view of the fact that Legionella spp. have progressively become recognized as relatively common causative agents of both community-acquired and nosocomial legionellosis, this is an opportune moment for this review.
How common are Legionella species other than Legionella pneumophila?
It’s quite common to find Legionella species other than Legionella pneumophila in cooling towers and water distribution systems. To date, more than 58 Legionella species have been described in published articles. Of these approximately 25 are linked to disease, namely Legionella pneumophila species serogroup 1, 3, 4, and 6.
Which Legionella species may colonize hospital water?
Other Legionella species may colonize hospital water as well. In one survey, 20% of hospital water systems were found to be colonized with L. anisa; none of the participating facilities had diagnosed infections due to this species.
What are the phenotypic characteristics of Legionellae?
The phenotypic characteristics of legionellae are described, including growth requirements, isolation media, biochemical tests, cellular fatty acids, quinones, and the guanine-plus-cytosine (G + C) content of DNA. Identification of legionellae by serology, monoclonal antibodies, and gene probes is described.