Maria Teresa Montagna1, Maria Luisa Cristina2, Osvalda De Giglio3, Anna Maria Spagnolo2, Christian Napoli3, Lucia Cannova4, Maria Grazia Deriu5, Santi Antonino Delia6, Ada Giuliano7, Marco Guida8, Pasqualina Laganà6, Giorgio Liguori9, Ida Mura5, Francesca Pennino10, Angelo Rossini11, Stefano Tardivo12, Ida Torre10, Maria Valeria Torregrossa4, Maria Rosaria Villafrate13, Roberto Albertini14, Cesira Pasquarella15. 1. Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology - Hygiene Section, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: mariateresa.montagna@uniba.it. 2. Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. 3. Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology - Hygiene Section, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. 4. Department of Sciences for Health Promotion - Hygiene Section, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. 5. Department of Biomedical Science - Hygiene Section, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. 6. Department of Biomedical Science and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. 7. Department of Prevention Services of Hygiene and Public Health, ASL Salerno, Salerno, Italy. 8. Department of Biology, University of Napoli "Federico II", Napoli, Italy. 9. Department of Movement and Health Sciences, University "Parthenope", Napoli, Italy. 10. Department of Public Health, University of Napoli, Napoli, Italy. 11. IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy. 12. Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. 13. Unit "Control Hospital Hygiene" University Hospital Policlinico "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy. 14. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, U.O. Medical Immunology, University Hospital of Parma, Italy. 15. Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translation Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Legionella is an intracellular microorganism living in natural and artificial aquatic environments. Although its transmission to humans is linked to the inhalation of contaminated aerosols, there is no validated air sampling method for the control and prevention of the disease. The aim of the present study was to provide more information on the distribution of Legionella spp. in indoor environments and to determine whether the same Legionella strains are isolated from air and water samples. METHODS: Ten healthcare facilities located in seven regions of Italy were enrolled. The serological typing of Legionella spp. from water samples and the surrounding air by active and passive sampling was assessed using polyvalent and monovalent antisera. Subsequently, the strains identified as Legionella pneumophila (Lpn) underwent molecular typing by sequence-based typing (SBT) using seven genes (flaA, pilE, asd, mip, mompS, proA, and neuA). The allelic profile number was assigned using the European Working Group for Legionella Infections-SBT database. RESULTS: Lpn serogroup 6 was the most prevalent serogroup; it was found simultaneously in the air and water samples of three different healthcare facilities. In the remaining seven hospitals, Lpn serogroups 1, 6, 7, 9, and 12 were isolated exclusively from water samples. The molecular investigation showed that Lpn strains in the water and air samples of each positive healthcare facility had the same allelic profile. Strains, identified as sequence types (STs) 728 and ST 1638+ST 1324, were isolated in two respective healthcare facilities, and a new strain, identified as ST 1989, was obtained in one healthcare facility. CONCLUSION: The application of the SBT method allowed to verify the homology among Legionella strains from water samples and the surrounding air. The results showed that the same Lpn strains were present in the air and water samples, and a new Legionella strain was identified.
BACKGROUND:Legionella is an intracellular microorganism living in natural and artificial aquatic environments. Although its transmission to humans is linked to the inhalation of contaminated aerosols, there is no validated air sampling method for the control and prevention of the disease. The aim of the present study was to provide more information on the distribution of Legionella spp. in indoor environments and to determine whether the same Legionella strains are isolated from air and water samples. METHODS: Ten healthcare facilities located in seven regions of Italy were enrolled. The serological typing of Legionella spp. from water samples and the surrounding air by active and passive sampling was assessed using polyvalent and monovalent antisera. Subsequently, the strains identified as Legionella pneumophila (Lpn) underwent molecular typing by sequence-based typing (SBT) using seven genes (flaA, pilE, asd, mip, mompS, proA, and neuA). The allelic profile number was assigned using the European Working Group for Legionella Infections-SBT database. RESULTS:Lpn serogroup 6 was the most prevalent serogroup; it was found simultaneously in the air and water samples of three different healthcare facilities. In the remaining seven hospitals, Lpn serogroups 1, 6, 7, 9, and 12 were isolated exclusively from water samples. The molecular investigation showed that Lpn strains in the water and air samples of each positive healthcare facility had the same allelic profile. Strains, identified as sequence types (STs) 728 and ST 1638+ST 1324, were isolated in two respective healthcare facilities, and a new strain, identified as ST 1989, was obtained in one healthcare facility. CONCLUSION: The application of the SBT method allowed to verify the homology among Legionella strains from water samples and the surrounding air. The results showed that the same Lpn strains were present in the air and water samples, and a new Legionella strain was identified.
Authors: Maria Teresa Montagna; Osvalda De Giglio; Maria Luisa Cristina; Christian Napoli; Claudia Pacifico; Antonella Agodi; Tatjana Baldovin; Beatrice Casini; Maria Anna Coniglio; Marcello Mario D'Errico; Santi Antonino Delia; Maria Grazia Deriu; Marco Guida; Pasqualina Laganà; Giorgio Liguori; Matteo Moro; Ida Mura; Francesca Pennino; Gaetano Privitera; Vincenzo Romano Spica; Silvia Sembeni; Anna Maria Spagnolo; Stefano Tardivo; Ida Torre; Federica Valeriani; Roberto Albertini; Cesira Pasquarella Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2017-06-22 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Pasqualina Laganà; Alessio Facciolà; Roberta Palermo; Santi Delia Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-03-28 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Anna Maria Spagnolo; Marina Sartini; David Di Cave; Beatrice Casini; Benedetta Tuvo; Maria Luisa Cristina Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-07-24 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Giulia Baldelli; Mattia Paolo Aliano; Giulia Amagliani; Mauro Magnani; Giorgio Brandi; Carmelo Pennino; Giuditta Fiorella Schiavano Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-29 Impact factor: 3.390