Exploring the Legionella pneumophila positivity rate in hotel water samples from Antalya, Turkey

Abstract

The genus Legionella is a fastidious Gram-negative bacteria widely distributed in natural waters and man made water supply systems. Legionella pneumophila is the aetiological agent of approximately 90% of reported Legionellosis cases, and serogroup 1 is the most frequent cause of infections. Legionnaires' disease is often associated with travel and continues to be a public health concern at present. The correct water management quality practices and rapid methods for analyzing Legionella species in environmental water is a key point for the prevention of Legionnaires' disease outbreaks. This study aimed to evaluate the positivity rates and serotyping of Legionella species from water samples in the region of Antalya, Turkey, which is an important tourism center. During January-December 2010, a total of 1403 samples of water that were collected from various hotels (n = 56) located in Antalya were investigated for Legionella pneumophila. All samples were screened for L. pneumophila by culture method according to "ISO 11731-2" criteria. The culture positive Legionella strains were serologically identified by latex agglutination test. A total of 142 Legionella pneumophila isolates were recovered from 21 (37.5%) of 56 hotels. The total frequency of L. pneumophila isolation from water samples was found as 10.1%. Serological typing of 142 Legionella isolates by latex agglutination test revealed that strains belonging to L. pneumophila serogroups 2-14 predominated in the examined samples (85%), while strains of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 were less numerous (15%). According to our knowledge, our study with the greatest number of water samples from Turkey demonstrates that L. pneumophila serogroups 2-14 is the most common isolate. Rapid isolation of L. pneumophila from environmental water samples is essential for the investigation of travel related outbreaks and the possible resources. Further studies are needed to have epidemiological data and to determine the types of L. pneumophila isolates from Turkey.

A Snapshot of the Prevalence and Molecular Diversity of Legionella pneumophila in the Water Systems of Israeli Hotels

“…In Italy, the Lp sg1 distribution rates in the hotel setting differed greatly between two studies, at 27.7% and 55%, including mixed cultures [15,34]. On the other hand, findings from Italy [19], Greece [23], and Turkey [21] have shown that the most frequent colonizers of the hotel water systems in these studies were Lp sg2-14.…”

“…Several recent studies have focused on the prevalence and distribution of Legionella in water systems of hotels in non-outbreak situations. These studies revealed variable rates of contamination and species diversity [18][19][20][21], but limited data is published on the molecular diversity of Legionella spp. in hotel settings [22][23][24].…”

Investigation of the presence of <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> in water samples from Erzurum and surrounding provinces in Turkey

“…Akkaya et al [22] detected Legionella in 8 (6.7%) of the 120 samples taken from schools, hospitals, hotels and houses in Kayseri, Turkey, in 2008. Özen et al [23], in their study involving a total of 403 samples collected from 56 different hotels in Antalya, reported that L. pneumophila was isolated in 37.5% of the hotels and 10.1% of water samples. Ozen also reported that 85% of the samples were L. pneumophila serogroup 2-14 positive, and 15% of the samples were L. pneumophila serogroup 1 positive.…”

As a Waterborne Disease Legionnaıre's Disease and Environmental Survey

“…2010 yılında yapılan bir başka çalışmada ise, yine önemli turizm merkezlerinden bir ilde faaliyet gösteren 56 otelden alınan 1043 Legionella su örnekte analiz edilmiştir. Yirmi bir otelde ve 142 numunede (%10.1) Legionella üremesi belirlenmiştir (31) . Bir başka çalışmada, Ankara, İzmir, Tablo 3.…”