title: Free-living amoebae (FLA) co-occurring with legionellae in industrial waters.
abstract: Legionella pneumophila is known as the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease and free-living amoebae (FLA) can serve as vehicles for legionellae. The aim of this study was to screen industrial waters for the occurrence of FLA and their co-occurrence with legionellae. A total of 201 water samples, including 129 cooling waters and 72 process waters, and 30 cooling lubricants were included in the study. Treated waters were screened periodically, pre and post treatment. Altogether, 72.6% of the water samples were positive for FLA, acanthamoebae being most prevalent (in 23.9% of the samples) followed by Vermamoeba vermiformis (19.4%). Only one cooling lubricant was positive (Acanthamoeba genotype T4). Legionella spp. were detected in 34.8% of the water samples and in 15% in high concentrations (>1000 CFU/100 ml). Altogether, 81.4% of the Legionella-positive samples were positive for FLA by standard methods. By applying a highly sensitive nested PCR to a representative set of random samples it was revealed that Legionella spp. always co-occurred with Acanthamoeba spp. Although the addition of disinfectants did influence amoebal density and diversity, treated waters showed no difference concerning FLA in the interphases of disinfection. It appears that FLA can re-colonize treated waters within a short period of time.
authors: Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, and Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors: Ute
authors: U
authors: Scheikl
authors: Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, and Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Sommer
authors: Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, and Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Kirschner
authors: Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, and Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Rameder
authors: Cest - Center for Electrochemical Surface Technology, A-2700 Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Schrammel
authors: Cest - Center for Electrochemical Surface Technology, A-2700 Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Zweimüller
authors: Cest - Center for Electrochemical Surface Technology, A-2700 Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Wesner
authors: AUVA - Austrian Workers' Compensation Board, A-1200 Vienna, Austria.
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Hinker
authors: Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, and Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: julia.walochnik@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Walochnik
mesh_terms: D000656:Amoeba / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D001317:Austria; D058491:Bacterial Load; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
keywords: Acanthamoeba; Free-living amoebae; Industrial water; Legionella; PCR