Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/2445/121682
Title: | Viability qPCR, a new tool for Legionella risk management |
Author: | Lizana, X. López Sevilla, Asunción Benito, Silvia Agustí, Gemma Ríos Alcolea, Martín Piqué i Clusella, Núria Marqués Villavecchia, Ana M. Codony, Francesc |
Keywords: | Legionel·la Reacció en cadena de la polimerasa ADN Bacteris Anàlisi de l'aigua Legionella Polymerase chain reaction DNA Bacteria Water analysis |
Issue Date: | Nov-2017 |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Abstract: | Background Viability quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (v-qPCR) is a recent analytical approach for only detecting live microorganisms by DNA amplification-based methods This approach is based on the use of a reagent that irreversibly fixes dead cells DNA. In this study, we evaluate the utility of v-qPCR versus culture method for Legionellosis risk management. Methods The present study was performed using 116 real samples. Water samples were simultaneously analysed by culture, v-qPCR and qPCR methods. Results were compared by means of a non-parametric test. Results In 11.6% of samples using both methods (culture method and v-qPCR) results were positive, in 50.0% of samples both methods gave rise to negative results. As expected, equivalence between methods was not observed in all cases, as in 32.1% of samples positive results were obtained by v-qPCR and all of them gave rise to negative results by culture. Only in 6.3% of samples, with very low Legionella levels, was culture positive and v-qPCR negative. In 3.5% of samples, overgrowth of other bacteria did not allow performing the culture. When comparing both methods, significant differences between culture and v-qPCR were in the samples belonging to the cooling towers-evaporative condensers group. The v-qPCR method detected greater presence and obtained higher concentrations of Legionella spp. (p < 0.001). Otherwise, no significant differences between methods were found in the rest of the groups. Conclusions The v-qPCR method can be used as a quick tool to evaluate Legionellosis risk, especially in cooling towers-evaporative condensers, where this technique can detect higher levels than culture. The combined interpretation of PCR results along with the ratio of live cells is proposed as a tool for understanding the sample context and estimating the Legionellosis risk potential according to 4 levels of hierarchy. |
Note: | Versió postprint del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.08.007 |
It is part of: | International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2017, vol. 220, num. 8, p. 1318-1324 |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/2445/121682 |
Related resource: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.08.007 |
ISSN: | 1438-4639 |
Appears in Collections: | Articles publicats en revistes (Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient) |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
pagination_IJHEH_13120.pdf | 707.03 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
This item is licensed under a Creative Commons License