Detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 7 strain from bathwater samples in a Japanese hospital

Fujimura, Shigeru; Oka, Tomohiro; Tooi, Osamu; Meguro, M; Chiba, Miyuki; Kawamura, M.; Maki, Fumi; Takeda, Hiroaki; Watanabe, Akira

doi:10.1007/s10156-005-0428-5

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…(1985), who demonstrated that the combination of sediment and environmental bacteria in water act synergistically to increase Legionella contamination in water distribution systems. We also found that free chlorine concentration was a major factor affecting contamination, consistent with previous observations (Fujimura et al. 2006; Mouchtouri et al.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Detection of culturable and nonculturableLegionellaspecies from hot water systems of public buildings in Japan

Edagawa

Kimura

Doi

et al. 2008

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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Aims: To investigate the prevalence of culturable and nonculturable Legionella species in hot water systems of public buildings in Japan and assess the risk factors associated with Legionella contamination in hot water systems. Methods and Results: Legionella species were detected by conventional culture and molecular methods in 130 water samples collected from 40 buildings. A total of 26 (20·0%) water samples from 17 (42·5%) buildings were positive by culture, qualitative PCR or both methods: Legionella pneumophila and Leg. anisa were detected in four samples by a culture method, whereas 23 samples were positive by qualitative PCR, with the presence of various Legionella species confirmed by sequencing. Of these 23 samples, bacterial counts were quantifiable in 21 by real‐time PCR (from 1·7 × 105 to 2·6 × 1011 cells per litre). Phylogenetic analysis of amplified partial 16S rRNA gene showed close relations to various species of Legionella, including Leg. anisa and Leg. micdadei, all of which have been associated with respiratory diseases or increased antibody titres in human sera. Assessment of risk factors showed that turbidity, free chlorine concentration, iron concentration and heterotrophic plate count (HPC) were significantly associated with Legionella contamination (P < 0·05). Conclusions: Contamination of hot water systems of public buildings with culturable and nonculturable Legionella species may be a potential risk factor for Legionella infection in Japan. Adequate levels of chlorine, low levels of iron and HPC are important maintenance measures in the reduction of Legionella contamination in hot water systems. Significance and Impact of the Study: More than 40% of hot water systems in the Japanese public buildings examined were contaminated by not only culturable Leg. pneumophila and Leg. anisa but also by nonculturable pathogenic species. To our knowledge, this is the first report of both culturable and nonculturable Legionella contamination in hot water systems of public buildings in Japan.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Detection of culturable and nonculturableLegionellaspecies from hot water systems of public buildings in Japan

Edagawa

Kimura

Doi

et al. 2008

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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“…L. pneumophila is the major causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease. In recent years, L. pneumophila has often been found in man-made water systems such as cooling towers, hot springs and circulation type baths (31,32). The detection of L. pneumophila in man-made water systems is essential for preventing the spread of Legionella infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The simple and rapid detection of specific PCR products from bacterial genomes using Zn finger proteins

Osawa

Ikebukuro

Motoki

et al. 2008

Nucleic Acids Research

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A novel method of rapid and specific detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from bacterial genomes using Zn finger proteins was developed. Zn finger proteins are DNA-binding proteins that can sequence specifically recognize PCR products. Since Zn finger proteins can directly detect PCR products without undergoing dehybridization, unlike probe DNA, and can double check the specific PCR amplification and sequence specificity of the PCR products, this novel method would be quick and highly accurate. In this study, we tried to detect Legionella pneumophila using Sp1. It was found that a 49 bp L. pneumophila-specific region containing the Sp1 recognition site is located on the flhA gene of the L. pneumophila genome. We succeeded in specifically detecting PCR products amplified from L. pneumophila in the presence of other bacterial genomes by ELISA, and demonstrated that Sp1 enables the discrimination of L. pneumophila-specific PCR products from others. By fluorescence depolarization measurement, these specific PCR products could be detected within 1 min. These results indicate that the rapid and simple detection of PCR products specific to L. pneumophila using a Zn finger protein was achieved. This methodology can be applied to the detection of other bacteria using various Zn finger proteins that have already been reported.

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“…Legionella spp. are commonly detected in hospital water supply systems [ 1 , 2 ]. Especially in the severely immunocompromised host, such as patients after bone marrow or solid organ transplantation, these pathogens are well-know causative agents of life-threatening nosocomial infections [ 3 - 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of a silver layer on the membrane of tap water filters on the microbiological quality of filtered water

et al. 2008

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Detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 7 strain from bathwater samples in a Japanese hospital

Cited by 7 publications

References 14 publications

Detection of culturable and nonculturableLegionellaspecies from hot water systems of public buildings in Japan

Detection of culturable and nonculturableLegionellaspecies from hot water systems of public buildings in Japan

The simple and rapid detection of specific PCR products from bacterial genomes using Zn finger proteins

Impact of a silver layer on the membrane of tap water filters on the microbiological quality of filtered water

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