title: Identification of Legionella spp. in Environmental Water Samples by ScanVIT-Legionella™ Method in Spain.
abstract: Rapid and more sensitive methods for the detection and quantification of viable Legionella cells have been developed. In this paper, a comparative analysis of environmental water samples using the ScanVIT-Legionella™ method and the traditional "gold standard" method of culturing is realised indicating the usefulness of the ScanVIT method. The ScanVIT-Legionella™ method was performed on environmental water samples from different locations of Huesca region (Spain). Legionella micro-colonies should appear green colour and Legionella pneumophila micro-colonies appear red. Twenty-one environmental water samples analysed by standard culture plus five control samples (Two sterile water samples with Legionella as positive controls and three sterile water samples as negative controls). All of them were used to apply ScanVIT-Legionella™ method. From of 21 environmental samples eleven were positive, six negative with both methods and four samples were negative for culture method and positive for ScanVIT-Legionella™ method. The positive control samples were positive and the negative were negative for both methods. A comparative analysis of the results obtained with two methods showed a strong positive determination coefficient (R(2) = 0.99753). The results demonstrate the usefulness of the ScanVIT-Legionella™ method as a rapid diagnostic tool in order to provide a diagnosis as quick as possible. ScanVIT-Legionella™ method offers a series of advantages such as quickly diagnosis, higher sensitivity and the possibility to identify Legionella spp. and L. pneumophila simultaneously.
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 177 Miguel Servet, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gruas
authors.affiliation: Cobrial Laboratory, Pl. Extremadura, 4 Bis, Huesca, Spain.
authors.forename: Isidro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 177 Miguel Servet, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 177 Miguel Servet, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina Belén
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Harborne Building, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, West Berkshire, RG6 6AS UK.
authors.forename: Demetris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Savva
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 177 Miguel Servet, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: M Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Arruga
keywords: Fluorescent probes; Legionella; Rapid diagnosis