Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Presence of Legionella pneumophila in household drinking water reservoirs in Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina

International Conference and Expo on Water Microbiology & Novel Technologies

July 18-19, 2016 Chicago, USA

Losch LS, Deluca GD and Merino LA

1Área de Bacteriología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
Catedra de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional del Nordes

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Microb Biochem Technol

Abstract:

Introduction: Legionella genus includes species that are found in a variety of aquatic environments. They are able to survive in a wide range of physicochemical conditions and colonize distribution systems and storage of drinking water. L. pneumophila is the primary pathogen transmitted by water that produces 90% of cases of Legionnaires�?? disease. There is little information of the incidence of Legionnaires�?? disease in Latin America. In Argentina the incidence of pnuemonias as a consequence of Legionella infection is approximately 2%. Nonetheless there is no information of the occurrence of Legionella in engineered systems in the country. Objetive: The aim of this study was detect the presence of Legionella pneumophila in household drinking water tanks of the city of Resistencia, Chaco. Methods: The sampling was non-probabilistic for convenience. Thirty two water samples taken from different points in the city were studied. Legionella detection in the samples was performed by culture as set out in the ISO standard 11731:1998. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was applied to isolates obtained by culture and identified as Legionella spp according to the ISO standards. The target sequences used corresponded to 23S rRNA gene, for the confirmation of the genus, and mip gene specific for the species L. pneumophila. Results: In 12 (37.5%) of the 32 samples studied, Legionella spp was recovered. The presence of L. pneumophila was confirmed by qPCR in all positive samples. In addition, 3 of these samples (9.5%) were also positive for another species of the genus Legionella. The number of samples studies represents 0.03% of households connected to the public water distribution system of Resistencia city. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the presence of L. pneumophila and other Legionella species in residential drinking water reservoirs of Resistencia city. Also it represents the first report of the surveillance of this organism in engineered water systems of Argentina. Acknowledgements: �??Investigación financiada por el Programa de Becas Carrillo-Oñativia, Comisión Nacional Salud Investiga, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación�?� y por la Secretaría General de Ciencia y Técnica de la Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. PI17/12L003

Biography :

Liliana S. Lösch is biochemistry of Instituto de Medicina Regional de la Universidad Nacional del Nordeste in Chaco, Argentina. She has completed her MSC in Tropical Medicine. Her main interests are waterborne pathogens in particular Legionella and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and to apply molecular approaches to assess water quality and pathogenic risks.

Eamil: silvinalosch@gmail.com