Reports on legionnaire disease findings from Istanbul University, Department of Biology provide new insights
February 9th, 2009
2009 FEB 9 -- Researchers detail in 'Profiling of environmental Legionella pneumophila strains by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA method isolated from geographically nearby buildings,' new data in legionnaire disease. According to a study from Istanbul, Turkey, "Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) which is also known as etiologic agent Legionnaires Disease lives in natural water and man made water systems. These bacteria belonging to Legionellaceae family are divided 15 serogroups."
"Phenotypical methods used for the identification of Legionella isolates are not very discriminatory. In this study we investigated genotypic features of eight L. pneumophila serogroup 1 and 18 L. pneumophila serogroup 2-14 strains isolated from different buildings in Istanbul by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method. Eight L. pneumophila serogroup 1 strains (37.5%) were similar RAPD profile and they were isolated from buildings located in a short distance (about 500 m). Four L. pneumophila serogroup 2-14 strains (22%) were identical genotypically," wrote Z. Zeybek and colleagues, Istanbul University, Department of Biology.
The researchers concluded: "Three of these strains were isolated from buildings located in a short distance."
Zeybek and colleagues published their study in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (Profiling of environmental Legionella pneumophila strains by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA method isolated from geographically nearby buildings. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2009;149(1-4):323-7).
For more information, contact Z. Zeybek, Faculty of Science, Dept. of Biology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Publisher contact information for the journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment is: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.
