title: Legionella pneumophila in cooling towers: fluctuations in counts, determination of genetic variability by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and persistence of PFGE patterns.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Cta Canyet s/n, 08916 Badalona (Barcelona), Spain.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ragull
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia-Nuñez
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pedro-Botet
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sopena
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esteve
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabrià
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial