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Utilization of polymerase chain reaction and selective media cultivation to identify Legionella in Taiwan spring water samples

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Abstract

In this study, we investigated the distribution of Legionella in sources of spring water and wastewater throughout Taiwan. Legionella were detected with culture method and PCR method from water samples, combined with molecular methods that allow the taxonomic identification of Legionella species. Factors associated with the distribution of Legionella including the physical–chemical and microbiological water quality characteristics were also measured. Legionella were detected in 18 of the 68 samples. Additionally, 16 of the 68 samples analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and eight of the 68 samples evaluated using the culture method were found to be positive for Legionella. The Legionella species identified included Legionella pneumophila, unnamed Legionella genotypes, uncultured Legionella spp., and Legionella lytica. Legionella species were found in water with temperatures ranging from 10.0 to 50.6°C and with pH values ranging from 5.59 to 9.32. Significant differences (Mann–Whitney U test, P < 0.05) were observed in the presence/absence of Legionella in samples with different pH values when Legionella were detected by the culture method. The results of this survey confirmed that Legionella is ubiquitous in the water of spring recreational areas in Taiwan. Long-term investigations of the occurrence of Legionella in hot spring recreational areas throughout Taiwan are needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Minhsiung Township, Chiayi County, 62102, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Shih-Wei Huang & Bing-Mu Hsu

  2. Institute of Applied Geophysics and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chin-Chun Huang

  3. Research and Diagnostic Center, Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Jung-Sheng Chen

Authors
  1. Shih-Wei Huang
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  2. Bing-Mu Hsu
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  3. Chin-Chun Huang
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  4. Jung-Sheng Chen
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Correspondence to Bing-Mu Hsu.

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Huang, SW., Hsu, BM., Huang, CC. et al. Utilization of polymerase chain reaction and selective media cultivation to identify Legionella in Taiwan spring water samples. Environ Monit Assess 174, 427–437 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1467-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1467-7

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