Characterization of Unrelated Clinical Legionella Pneumophila Isolates in Catalonia by Monoclonal Subgrouping and Sequence-Based Typing

Abstract

Aim: To characterize the genetic diversity of unrelated Legionella pneumophila clinical isolates in Catalonia and compare with other European regions. Methods: 95 unrelated isolates were analyzed using monoclonal antibodies and sequence-based typing, 1989–2013. Results: The isolates showed a high diversity (IOD 0.964) with a predominance of some profiles (ST37-Phialdelphia, ST23-Philadelphia and ST1-OLDA). All regions had predominant sequence types (STs) that differed between regions, and only 3% of STs were shared between the three regions. Conclusion: L. pneumophila clinical isolates from Catalonia presented a high diversity and can be used in epidemiological surveillance studies. The heterogeneous predominance of STs between European regions suggested a relationship between geographical distribution and virulence of some STs.

KEYWORDS:

• clinical isolates
• Legionella
• monoclonal antibody
• sequence-based typing

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The present study was funded by the project PI10/0191, integrated in the National R + D + I and funded by the ISCIII-General Evalutation Branch and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) by CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES). CIBERES is an initiative of Instituo de Salud Carlos III. S Quero was funded by CIBERES and FI-AGAUR (FI-AGAUR 2012). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The present study was funded by the project PI10/0191, integrated in the National R + D + I and funded by the ISCIII-General Evalutation Branch and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) by CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES). CIBERES is an initiative of Instituo de Salud Carlos III. S Quero was funded by CIBERES and FI-AGAUR (FI-AGAUR 2012). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.