title: Population structure of Legionella spp. from environmental samples in Gabon, 2013.
abstract: Aquatic environments are the most important source for Legionella spp. infections such as Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever. The reservoirs of Legionella spp. are mostly unclear in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study, conducted in 2013, was to identify geographical areas of an increased risk for exposure to Legionella spp., and to describe the population structure of Legionella spp. from different water sources in a cross-sectional study in Gabon. Fresh water samples (n = 200) were cultured on Legionella selective agar; species were confirmed by MALDI-TOF, a Legionella pneumophila specific real-time PCR and 16S RNA gene sequencing. Serogroups were identified by agglutination test. The population structure was assessed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Legionella spp. isolates (n = 29) were frequently found in the hospital setting particularly in hot water systems. Open water bodies (i.e. rivers, lakes) were not contaminated with Legionella spp. Isolated L. pneumophila mainly belonged to serogroups 2-14 (n = 19) and MLST sequence type ST1, ST75 (and related STs) and ST1911. In conclusion, hospitalized patients might have an increased risk to become infected with Legionella spp. in the studied areas in Gabon, particularly if they have risk factors such as comorbidities. Both broadly extended (ST1, ST75) and local lineages (ST1911) were present in our setting.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, Tübingen, Germany; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ehrhardt
authors.affiliation: Institut für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, Tübingen, Germany; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon.
authors.forename: Abraham S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Alabi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuczius
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon.
authors.forename: Francis Foguim
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Tsombeng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Institut für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, Tübingen, Germany; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kremsner
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon; Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany. Electronic address: frieder.schaumburg@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Frieder
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schaumburg
authors.affiliation: Institut für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, Tübingen, Germany; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esen
mesh_terms: D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005681:Gabon; D006801:Humans; D007875:Legionella / Q000145:classification*; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Africa; Gabon; Hospital; Legionella; Population structure