Exploring the distribution of Legionella pneumophila sequence types in the water supply system of Klang Valley integrated transit system.

INTRODUCTION

Legionella pneumophila, a microorganism that thrives in both natural freshwater and man-made water systems, is a significant pathogen that causes Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of L. pneumophila sequence types (ST) within the water supply system of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System (KVITS) in Malaysia.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Sequence-Based Typing (SBT) was used to determine the sequence type of the L. pneumophila isolates by amplifying seven different loci (flaA, pilE, asd, mip, mompS, proA, and neuA), as per the European Working Group for Legionella Infections (protocol version 5.0).

RESULTS

L. pneumophila was isolated from five out of 80 samples (6.3%). These isolates comprised five distinct sequence types: ST1, ST22, ST2210, ST3017, and ST3029. Three isolates typed as ST1, ST22 and ST2210 belong to serogroup 1. Phylogenetic analysis suggested multiple sources of contamination.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests the need for a comprehensive water management plan for KVITS, including routine testing and risk assessments, to reduce the risk of Legionnaires' disease outbreaks.