New Strain of Legionella pneumophila Found in France
Author Information
Author(s): Ginevra Christophe, Forey Françoise, Campèse Christine, Reyrolle Monique, Che Didier, Etienne Jerome, Jarraud Sophie
Primary Institution: Université de Lyon
Hypothesis
Is there a new endemic strain of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in France?
Conclusion
The Lorraine strain of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is increasingly prevalent in clinical samples in France but is rarely detected in water samples.
Supporting Evidence
- The Lorraine strain accounted for 10.5% of clinical isolates in 2005 and 9.0% in 2006.
- From 1995 through 2006, 1,768 clinical Legionella isolates were typed.
- The Paris strain was responsible for 12.2% of culture-confirmed cases from 1998 to 2002.
- An identical PFGE pattern was found for 80 isolates from unrelated patients.
- The Lorraine strain has caused 2 outbreaks in France.
Takeaway
Scientists found a new type of bacteria called the Lorraine strain that makes people sick, but it's hard to find in water, even though it's showing up more in sick people.
Methodology
The study involved typing clinical Legionella isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and sequence-based typing.
Limitations
The Lorraine strain is rarely found in environmental samples, complicating source investigations.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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