Virulence Genes and Biofilm Formation Among Legionella pneumophila Isolates Collected from Hospital Water Sources.
Legionella pneumophila
Biofilm formation
PCR
Pneumonia
Virulence genes
Journal
Current microbiology
ISSN: 1432-0991
Titre abrégé: Curr Microbiol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 7808448
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
16 Apr 2024
16 Apr 2024
Historique:
received:
19
09
2022
accepted:
29
12
2023
medline:
16
4
2024
pubmed:
16
4
2024
entrez:
16
4
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Legionella pneumophila can be transmitted to people, especially immunocompromised patients, via hospital water pipe systems and cause severe pneumonia. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of major virulence factor genes, ability of biofilms formation, and correlation between presence of Legionella isolates and temperature, pH, and residual chlorine of water. Hundred water samples were collected from nine hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Temperature, pH, and residual chlorine were determined during sampling. Different virulence genes and the ability to form biofilms were subsequently analyzed among the L. pneumophila isolates. Results showed that 12 (12%) samples were positive in culture method and all of the isolates were positive as L. pneumophila species (mip). A correlation was found between Legionella culture positivity and temperature and pH of water, but there was no significant correlation between residual chlorine of water samples and the presence of Legionella. The isolation of Legionella rate in summer and spring was higher than winter and autumn. Twelve (100%) isolates were positive for mip genes, 9 (75%) for dot genes, 8 (66.66%) for hsp, 6 (50%) for lvh, and 4 (33.33%) for rtx. All of the isolates displayed strong ability for biofilm production every three days. Two of these isolates (16.6%) displayed weak ability to form biofilm on the first day of incubation. This study revealed that water sources in hospitals were colonized by virulent Legionella and should be continuously monitored to avoid elevated concentrations of Legionella with visible biofilm formation.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38625380
doi: 10.1007/s00284-023-03609-1
pii: 10.1007/s00284-023-03609-1
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
141Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
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