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Legionella is a genus of gram-negative bacteria that can be seen using a silver stain or grown in a special media that contains cysteine, an amino acid.It is known to cause legionellosis [3] (all illnesses caused by Legionella) including a pneumonia-type illness called Legionnaires' disease and a mild flu-like illness called Pontiac fever. [3]
Legionella pneumophila, the primary causative agent for Legionnaire's disease, is an aerobic, pleomorphic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative bacterium. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] L. pneumophila is a intracellular parasite that preferentially infects soil amoebae and freshwater protozoa for replication.
Legionella spp. enter the lungs either by aspiration of contaminated water or inhalation of aerosolized contaminated water or soil. In the lung, the bacteria are consumed by macrophages , a type of white blood cell , inside of which the Legionella bacteria multiply, causing the death of the macrophage.
Large hotel with solar water heating system for spa and domestic hot water. A month before the deaths, local government authorities may have known about the problem, but were accused of not alerting the public to avoid disruption of the tourism industry. [29] 2012: Edinburgh, Scotland: South west of Edinburgh: Possibly cooling towers: 92: 4: 3%
Legionella pneumophila is the most common cause, but sometimes other species of Legionella bacteria also cause Legionnaires' disease. [ 15 ] [ 16 ] The terms "Philadelphia fever" and "Legion fever" appear to have been used at the time of the outbreak and for shortly thereafter, [ 17 ] although at least one 2008 source which covers disease in a ...
[12] [13] An outbreak caused by Legionella micdadei in early 1988 in the UK became known as Lochgoilhead fever. [14] Since that time, other species of Legionella that cause Pontiac fever have been identified, most notably in New Zealand, in 2007 where Legionella longbeachae was discovered. The New Zealand outbreak also marked the first time ...
February 5 – A Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study on the causes of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Flint in 2014 and 2015 finds that low chlorine levels were the cause. [74] Chlorine, which kills microbes responsible for the disease, also reacts with heavy metals like lead and iron.
Most isolates of Legionella have been from air-conditioning cooling towers and potable-water distribution systems, but they can also be found in other thermally polluted water sources such as air conditioners, spa equipment, fountains, humidifiers, or showers. [15] They can also be collected on the surfaces of lakes, mud, and streams.