Legionella anisa
Legionella anisa is a Gram-negative bacterium, one of more than 40 species in the family Legionellaceae. After Legionella pneumophila, this species has been isolated most frequently from water samples. This species is also one of the several pathogenic forms of Legionella having been associated with rare clinical cases of illness including Pontiac fever[1][2] and Legionnaires' disease.[3]
| Legionella anisa | |
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| Species: | L. anisa |
| Binomial name | |
| Legionella anisa Gorman et al. 1985, sp. nov. | |
History
This species was first isolated from water during a nosocomial outbreak in the United States between March 1980 and June 1981. The type strain of L. anisa is WA-316-C3 (ATCC 35292).[4]
The first reported clinical detection was in 1986, with a female patient in Victoria, Australia, who presented with pneumonia.[5] Similar to other Legionella species, person-to-person transmission has not been documented.
Structure
Like other Legionella species, L. anisa is a thin, aerobic, pleomorphic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative bacterium. A distinguishing characteristic is the ability of colonies to exhibit blue-white autofluorescence when viewed under ultraviolet light. Thus, L. anisa, along with several other species of Legionella, is sometimes referred to as "blue-white" Legionella.[6]
Detection
Legionella anisa is traditionally detected using the same culture methods as described for Legionella. However, some research suggests L. anisa may require a co-culture method that accounts for the close relationship with amoebae. When present in a sample but still contained within an amoeba host, the plating method may return false-negative results. Adjusting currently accepted laboratory analysis may be required to better understand the true clinical and environmental prevalence of this particular species.[7]
Genome-based analytical techniques may prove especially useful for L. anisa, as a study of isolates from various locations in France suggest that the genomic variation is much more limited and homogenous than other Legionella species.[8] In addition, such techniques greatly reduce the time required to obtain results.
Symptoms
Infections may be asymptomatic, and are strongly associated with the respiratory system. Early symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, shortness of breath, cough, muscle aches and pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, sputum production with presence of blood, nausea, and irritation or inflammation of the nose, throat, or lungs.[9]
Most people who breathe in the bacteria do not become ill. The risk of disease is increased with age, smoking, and in people with weakened immune systems. A multinational study found that less than 3% of reported Legionella infections were due to L. anisa.[10]
References
- van der Mee-Marquet N, Domelier A-S, Arnault L, et al. (2006). "Legionella anisa, a Possible Indicator of Water Contamination by Legionella pneumophila". J. Clin. Microbiol. 44 (1): 56–9. doi:10.1128/JCM.44.1.56-59.2006. PMC 1351956. PMID 16390948.
- Fenstersheib MD, Miller M, Diggins C, et al. (1990). "Outbreak of Pontiac fever due to Legionella anisa". Lancet. 336 (8706): 35–7. doi:10.1016/0140-6736(90)91532-f. PMID 1973219. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
- Fallon RJ, Stack BH (1990). "Legionnaires' disease due to Legionella anisa". J Infect. 20 (3): 227–9. doi:10.1016/0163-4453(90)91144-3. PMID 2341733.
- Gorman GW, Feeley JC, Steigerwalt A, et al. (1985). "Legionella anisa: a new species of Legionella isolated from potable waters and cooling tower". Appl Environ Microbiol. 49 (2): 305–9. doi:10.1128/AEM.49.2.305-309.1985. PMC 238398. PMID 3985609.
- Thacker WL, Benson RF, Hawes L, et al. (1990). "Characterization of a Legionella anisa strain isolated from a patient with pneumonia". J Clin Microbiol. 28 (1): 122–3. doi:10.1128/JCM.28.1.122-123.1990. PMC 269549. PMID 2405005.
- "Blue White Legionella factsheet". Special Pathogens Lab. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- La Scola B, Mezi L, Weiller PJ, Raoult D (2001). "Isolation of Legionella anisa Using an Amoebic Coculture Procedure". J Clin Microbiol. 39 (1): 365–6. doi:10.1128/JCM.39.1.365-366.2001. PMC 87733. PMID 11136802.
- Akermi M, Doleans A, Forey F, et al. (2006). "Characterization of the Legionella anisa population structure by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis". FEMS Microbiol Lett. 258 (2): 204–7. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00216.x. PMID 16640574.
- "Symptoms of Legionella anisa infection". Right Diagnosis. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
- Yu VL, Plouffe JF, Pastoris MC, et al. (2002). "Distribution of Legionella Species and Serogroups Isolated by Culture in Patients with Sporadic Community-Acquired Legionellosis: An International Collaborative Survey". J Infect Dis. 186 (1): 127–8. doi:10.1086/341087. PMID 12089674.