Abstract
The monoclonal antibodies and the sequence-based typing (SBT) are two methodologies widely used to characterise Legionella pneumophila strains serogroup 1 (sg1). In this study, we analysed the clinical strains received in two Portuguese laboratories since 1987, including the strains isolated in Portugal during the four years of the surveillance scheme for Legionnaires' disease implemented in 2004. In total, 63 clinical isolates of L. pneumophila sg1 were differentiated by SBT into 19 different sequence types. Ten of them were new in the SBT database of the European Working Group for Legionella Infections (EWGLI). As a result of the combination of the two methodologies, these strains were discriminated into 25 different profiles. This study enabled, for the first time in Portugal, not only to characterise the L. pneumophila sg1 clinical isolates, but also to create a database of Portuguese profiles for use in epidemiological surveillance efforts.
Highlights
Legionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative facultative intracellular pathogen, which is responsible for Legionnaires’ Disease
E U ROSU RVEILLANCE Vol . 14 · I ssu e 28 · 16 J ul y 20 09 · w w w. e urosurve ill an ce . o rg Results In this study, all but three of the strains included were typable by sequence-based typing (SBT) using the seven genes
As far as our experience is concerned, the SBT scheme is technically simple for a laboratory with basic molecular expertise and equipment, provided that there is access to a sequencing laboratory
Summary
Legionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative facultative intracellular pathogen, which is responsible for Legionnaires’ Disease This microorganism has increasingly been recognised as an important cause of pneumonia since its first description in 1977 [1]. Sequence-based typing (SBT) is one of the genotypic methods that can be applied for this purpose It was adopted as an international standard and is widely used by the members of the European Working Group for Legionella Infections (EWGLI), since it is a simple, rapid and discriminatory typing method. It allows the exchange of data between laboratories [7,8]
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