Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila
Colorized scanning electron micrograph image of L. pneumophila
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Pseudomonadota
Class: Gammaproteobacteria
Order: Legionellales
Family: Legionellaceae
Genus: Legionella
Species:
L. pneumophila
Binomial name
Legionella pneumophila
Brenner DJ, Steigerwalt AG, McDade JE 1979

Legionella pneumophila, the primary causative agent for Legionnaire's disease, is an aerobic, pleomorphic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative bacterium.[1][2] L. pneumophila is a intracellular parasite that preferentially infects soil amoebae and freshwater protozoa for replication.[3][4] Due to L. pneumophila’s ability to thrive in water, it can grow in water filtration systems, leading to faucets, showers, and other fixtures. Aerosolized water droplets containing L. pneumophila originating from these fixtures may be inhaled by humans.[5] Upon entry to the human respiratory tract, L. pneumophila is able to infect and reproduce within human alveolar macrophages.[4] This causes the onset of Legionnaires' disease, also known as legionellosis.[4] Infected humans may display symptoms such as fever, delirium, diarrhea, and decreased liver and kidney function.[6] L. pneumophila infections can be diagnosed by a urine antigen test.[7][8] The infections caused by the bacteria can be treated with fluoroquinolones and azithromycin antibiotics.[7]

  1. ^ Madigan M, Martinko J, eds. (2005). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-144329-1.
  2. ^ Heuner K, Swanson M, eds. (2008). Legionella: Molecular Microbiology. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-26-4.
  3. ^ Rowbotham TJ (December 1980). "Preliminary report on the pathogenicity of Legionella pneumophila for freshwater and soil amoebae". Journal of Clinical Pathology. 33 (12): 1179–1183. doi:10.1136/jcp.33.12.1179. PMC 1146371. PMID 7451664.
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  6. ^ Djordjevic Z, Folic M, Petrovic I, Zornic S, Stojkovic A, Miljanovic A, et al. (May 2022). "An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in newborns in Serbia". Paediatrics and International Child Health. 42 (2): 59–66. doi:10.1080/20469047.2022.2108672. PMID 35944175. S2CID 251468797.
  7. ^ a b Viasus D, Gaia V, Manzur-Barbur C, Carratalà J (June 2022). "Legionnaires' Disease: Update on Diagnosis and Treatment". Infectious Diseases and Therapy. 11 (3): 973–986. doi:10.1007/s40121-022-00635-7. PMC 9124264. PMID 35505000.
  8. ^ Conway de Macario E, Macario AJ, Wolin MJ (January 1982). "Specific antisera and immunological procedures for characterization of methanogenic bacteria". Journal of Bacteriology. 149 (1): 320–328. doi:10.1128/jb.149.1.320-328.1982. PMC 216625. PMID 6172417.