Comparison of Updated Methods for Legionella Detection in Environmental Water Samples

Daniela Toplitsch, Sabine Platzer, Romana Zehner, Stephanie Maitz, Franz Mascher and Clemens Kittinger
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Daniela Toplitsch: Diagnostic & Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Sabine Platzer: Diagnostic & Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Romana Zehner: Diagnostic & Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Stephanie Maitz: Diagnostic & Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Franz Mascher: Diagnostic & Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Clemens Kittinger: Diagnostic & Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: The difficulty of cultivation of Legionella spp. from water samples remains a strenuous task even for experienced laboratories. The long incubation periods for Legionellae make isolation difficult. In addition, the water samples themselves are often contaminated with accompanying microbial flora, and therefore require complex cultivation methods from diagnostic laboratories. In addition to the recent update of the standard culture method ISO 11731:2017, new strategies such as quantitative PCR (qPCR) are often discussed as alternatives or additions to conventional Legionella culture approaches. In this study, we compared ISO 11731:2017 with qPCR assays targeting Legionella spp., Legionella pneumophila , and Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. In samples with a high burden of accompanying microbial flora, qPCR shows an excellent negative predictive value for Legionella pneumophila , thus making qPCR an excellent tool for pre-selection of negative samples prior to work-intensive culture methods. This and its low limit of detection make qPCR a diagnostic asset in Legionellosis outbreak investigations, where quick-risk assessments are essential, and are a useful method for monitoring risk sites.

Keywords: risk assessment; water monitoring; water quality; bacteriological; Legionella (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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