In this study, we investigated the distribution of Legionella species in water cooling towers located in different parts of Malaysia to obtain information that may inform public health policies for the prevention of legionellosis. A total of 20 water samples were collected from 11 cooling towers located in three different states in east, west and south Malaysia. The samples were concentrated by filtration and treated with an acid buffer before plating on to BCYE agar. Legionella viable counts in these samples ranged from 100 to 2,000 CFU ml−1; 28 isolates from the 24 samples were examined by latex agglutination as well as 16S rRNA and rpoB PCR-DNA sequencing. These isolates were identified as Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (35.7%), L. pneumophila serogroup 2–14 (39%), L. pneumophila non-groupable (10.7%), L. busanensis, L. gormanii, L. anisa and L. gresilensis.L. pneumophila was clearly the predominant species at all sampling sites. Repeat sampling from the same cooling tower and testing different colonies from the same water sample showed concurrent colonization by different serogroups and different species of Legionella in some of the cooling towers.
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Research Article|
November 09 2009
Legionella species and serogroups in Malaysian water cooling towers: identification by latex agglutination and PCR-DNA sequencing of isolates
Stacey Foong Yee Yong;
1School of Biomedical Science, Taylor's University College, No. 1, Jalan SS15/8, 47500 Sabang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel.: +60 3 56362641 Ext. 504 Fax: +60 3 56345209 [email protected]; [email protected]
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Fen-Ning Goh;
Fen-Ning Goh
1School of Biomedical Science, Taylor's University College, No. 1, Jalan SS15/8, 47500 Sabang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
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Yun Fong Ngeow
Yun Fong Ngeow
2Monash University, School of Science, Bandar Sunway, 46150, Selangor, Malaysia
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J Water Health (2010) 8 (1): 92–100.
Article history
Received:
January 13 2009
Accepted:
April 21 2009
Citation
Stacey Foong Yee Yong, Fen-Ning Goh, Yun Fong Ngeow; Legionella species and serogroups in Malaysian water cooling towers: identification by latex agglutination and PCR-DNA sequencing of isolates. J Water Health 1 March 2010; 8 (1): 92–100. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2009.002
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