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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.
The number of cases that occur globally is not known. [1] Legionnaires' disease is the cause of an estimated 2–9% of pneumonia cases that are acquired outside of a hospital. [1] An estimated 8,000 to 18,000 cases a year in the United States require hospitalization. [9] Outbreaks of disease account for a minority of cases.
The legionella bacteria responsible for the disease lives and multiplies in water areas like hot tubs, air conditioners, mist sprayers in grocery store produce departments, and water systems.
Year City Venue Source Cases Deaths Fatality rate Notes 2000: Melbourne, Australia: Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium: Cooling tower: 125: 4: 3.2%: In April 2000, an outbreak of Legionella pnemophila serogroup 1 occurred in Melbourne, Australia. The outbreak resulted in 125 confirmed cases of Legionnaire's disease, with 95 (76%) hospitalised.
They comprise two families, typified by Legionella and Coxiella, both of which include notable pathogens. For example, Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii and Legionella pneumophila causes Legionnaires' disease [ 3 ] [ 4 ] and Pontiac fever .
Legionella anisa is traditionally detected using the same culture methods as described for Legionella. However, some research suggests L. anisa may require a co-culture method that accounts for the close relationship with amoebae. When present in a sample but still contained within an amoeba host, the plating method may return false-negative ...
Legionella species are aquatic organisms and typically inhabit freshwater environments with humans being accidental hosts. 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 ...