Legionella pneumophila in cooling towers: fluctuations in counts, determination of genetic variability by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and persistence of PFGE patterns.
The concentrations of Legionella pneumophila in cooling towers may vary considerably over short periods of time, producing significant fluctuations throughout the year. Despite genetic variability, in small geographical areas the same indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns may be shared among different cooling towers and persist over time.
Ragull
Sonia
S
Infectious Diseases Unit, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Cta Canyet s/n, 08916 Badalona (Barcelona), Spain.
Garcia-Nuñez
Marian
M
Pedro-Botet
Maria Luisa
ML
Sopena
Nieves
N
Esteve
Maria
M
Montenegro
Rafael
R
Sabrià
Miquel
M
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000379:methods*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
D004269:DNA, Bacterial