Decreasing Pasteurization Treatment Efficiency against Amoeba-Grown Legionella pneumophila—Recognized Public Health Risk Factor

Bibliographic Data

ID15510220
AuthorsMaša Knežević (0000-0002-1149-4494, University of Rijeka), Dobrica Rončević (0000-0002-8599-8951, University of Rijeka), Darija Vukić Lušić (0000-0003-0534-2547, University of Rijeka, corresponding author), Mirna Mihelčić (0000-0002-8241-1721, University of Rijeka), Rok Kogoj (0000-0002-8999-4923, University of Ljubljana), Darja Keše (0000-0002-8961-0678, University of Ljubljana), Marin Glad (0000-0001-9567-3897, Department of Environmental Health, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia), Arijana Cenov (0000-0002-6731-7868, Department of Environmental Health, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia), Mateja Ožanić (0000-0002-7028-1245, University of Rijeka), Daniela Glažar Ivče (0000-0001-6923-0523, Branch Office Rab, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Palit 143a, 51280 Rab, Croatia), Marina Šantić (0000-0003-4138-3581, University of Rijeka)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue3
Pages1099-1099
Publication date2022-01-19
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19031099
PMID35162120
OpenAlexW4206021263
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited46

Legionellae are gram-negative bacteria most commonly found in freshwater ecosystems and purpose-built water systems. In humans, the bacterium causes Legionnaires' disease (LD) or a Pontiac fever. In this study, the different waters (drinking water, pool water, cooling towers) in which Legionella pneumophila has been isolated were studied to assess the possible risk of bacterial spreading in the population. The influence of physical and chemical parameters, and interactions with Acanthamoeba castellanii on L. pneumophila , were analyzed by Heterotrophic Plate Count, the Colony-forming units (CFU) methods, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Sequence-Based Typing (SBT) analysis. During the study period (2013-2019), a total of 1932 water samples were analyzed, with the average annual rate of Legionella -positive water samples of 8.9%, showing an increasing trend. The largest proportion of Legionella -positive samples was found in cooling towers and rehabilitation centers (33.9% and 33.3%, respectively). Among the isolates, L. pneumophila SGs 2-14 was the most commonly identified strain (76%). The survival of Legionella was enhanced in the samples with higher pH values, while higher electrical conductivity, nitrate, and free residual chlorine concentration significantly reduced the survival of Legionella. Our results show that growth in amoeba does not affect the allelic profile, phenotype, and morphology of the bacterium but environmental L. pneumophila becomes more resistant to pasteurization treatment

Bacteria · Biology · Legionella · Legionella pneumophila · Legionnaires' disease · Veterinary medicine · Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing · Legionella and Acanthamoeba research · Medicine · Vibrio bacteria research studies · Microbiology

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