Occurrence of Uncultured <i>Legionella</i> spp. in Treated Wastewater Effluent and Its Impact on Human Health (SCA.Re.S Project)
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide optimal conditions for the environmental spread of <i>Legionella</i>. As part of the Evaluation of Sanitary Risk Related to the Discharge of Wastewater to the Ground (SCA.Re.S) project, this study was conducted to evaluate the presence of <i...
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MDPI AG
2024-09-01
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| author | Osvalda De Giglio Giusy Diella Francesco Bagordo Antonella Francesca Savino Angelantonio Calabrese Mariavirginia Campanale Francesco Triggiano Francesca Apollonio Valentina Spagnuolo Marco Lopuzzo Tiziana Grassi Maria Clementina Caputo Silvia Brigida Federica Valeriani Vincenzo Romano Spica Maria Teresa Montagna |
| author_facet | Osvalda De Giglio Giusy Diella Francesco Bagordo Antonella Francesca Savino Angelantonio Calabrese Mariavirginia Campanale Francesco Triggiano Francesca Apollonio Valentina Spagnuolo Marco Lopuzzo Tiziana Grassi Maria Clementina Caputo Silvia Brigida Federica Valeriani Vincenzo Romano Spica Maria Teresa Montagna |
| author_sort | Osvalda De Giglio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide optimal conditions for the environmental spread of <i>Legionella</i>. As part of the Evaluation of Sanitary Risk Related to the Discharge of Wastewater to the Ground (SCA.Re.S) project, this study was conducted to evaluate the presence of <i>Legionella</i> in WWTP effluent and in groundwater samples collected from two wells located downstream from the plant. The samples were analyzed to determine the concentrations of <i>Legionella</i> spp using the standard culture-based method and molecular techniques, followed by genomic sequencing analysis. <i>Legionella</i> was detected only with the molecular methods (except in one sample of effluent positive for <i>L. pneumophila</i> serogroup 6), which showed viable <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> and <i>L.</i> non-<i>pneumophila</i> through the use of free DNA removal solution in both the effluent and groundwater, with concentrations that progressively decreased downstream from the plant. Viable <i>L. pneumophila</i> appeared to be slightly more concentrated in warm months. However, no significant differences (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.05) in concentrations between cold and warm months were observed. A genotypic analysis characterized the species present in the samples and found that uncultured <i>Legionella</i> spp, as yet undefined, constituted the prevalent species in all the samples (range 77.15–83.17%). WWTPs play an important role in the hygienic and sanitary quality of groundwater for different uses. The application of <i>Legionella</i> control systems during the purification of effluents is warranted to prevent possible outbreaks of legionellosis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec9c9812efcf4b45a347fc4ff20dc4b6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec9c9812efcf4b45a347fc4ff20dc4b62025-08-20T01:55:45ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172024-09-0113978610.3390/pathogens13090786Occurrence of Uncultured <i>Legionella</i> spp. in Treated Wastewater Effluent and Its Impact on Human Health (SCA.Re.S Project)Osvalda De Giglio0Giusy Diella1Francesco Bagordo2Antonella Francesca Savino3Angelantonio Calabrese4Mariavirginia Campanale5Francesco Triggiano6Francesca Apollonio7Valentina Spagnuolo8Marco Lopuzzo9Tiziana Grassi10Maria Clementina Caputo11Silvia Brigida12Federica Valeriani13Vincenzo Romano Spica14Maria Teresa Montagna15Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, ItalyHygiene Section, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico di Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy (CNR), Water Research Institute (IRSA), Via F. De Blasio, 5, 70132 Bari, ItalyEngeo soc. cop. a.r.l., 70122 Bari, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento, Via Monteroni 165, 73100 Lecce, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy (CNR), Water Research Institute (IRSA), Via F. De Blasio, 5, 70132 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento, Via Monteroni 165, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Movement, Human, and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Movement, Human, and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyWastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide optimal conditions for the environmental spread of <i>Legionella</i>. As part of the Evaluation of Sanitary Risk Related to the Discharge of Wastewater to the Ground (SCA.Re.S) project, this study was conducted to evaluate the presence of <i>Legionella</i> in WWTP effluent and in groundwater samples collected from two wells located downstream from the plant. The samples were analyzed to determine the concentrations of <i>Legionella</i> spp using the standard culture-based method and molecular techniques, followed by genomic sequencing analysis. <i>Legionella</i> was detected only with the molecular methods (except in one sample of effluent positive for <i>L. pneumophila</i> serogroup 6), which showed viable <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> and <i>L.</i> non-<i>pneumophila</i> through the use of free DNA removal solution in both the effluent and groundwater, with concentrations that progressively decreased downstream from the plant. Viable <i>L. pneumophila</i> appeared to be slightly more concentrated in warm months. However, no significant differences (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.05) in concentrations between cold and warm months were observed. A genotypic analysis characterized the species present in the samples and found that uncultured <i>Legionella</i> spp, as yet undefined, constituted the prevalent species in all the samples (range 77.15–83.17%). WWTPs play an important role in the hygienic and sanitary quality of groundwater for different uses. The application of <i>Legionella</i> control systems during the purification of effluents is warranted to prevent possible outbreaks of legionellosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/9/786wastewater treatment plant<i>Legionella</i> non-<i>pneumophila</i>detection methodsviabilitygroundwater |
| spellingShingle | Osvalda De Giglio Giusy Diella Francesco Bagordo Antonella Francesca Savino Angelantonio Calabrese Mariavirginia Campanale Francesco Triggiano Francesca Apollonio Valentina Spagnuolo Marco Lopuzzo Tiziana Grassi Maria Clementina Caputo Silvia Brigida Federica Valeriani Vincenzo Romano Spica Maria Teresa Montagna Occurrence of Uncultured <i>Legionella</i> spp. in Treated Wastewater Effluent and Its Impact on Human Health (SCA.Re.S Project) Pathogens wastewater treatment plant <i>Legionella</i> non-<i>pneumophila</i> detection methods viability groundwater |
| title | Occurrence of Uncultured <i>Legionella</i> spp. in Treated Wastewater Effluent and Its Impact on Human Health (SCA.Re.S Project) |
| title_full | Occurrence of Uncultured <i>Legionella</i> spp. in Treated Wastewater Effluent and Its Impact on Human Health (SCA.Re.S Project) |
| title_fullStr | Occurrence of Uncultured <i>Legionella</i> spp. in Treated Wastewater Effluent and Its Impact on Human Health (SCA.Re.S Project) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occurrence of Uncultured <i>Legionella</i> spp. in Treated Wastewater Effluent and Its Impact on Human Health (SCA.Re.S Project) |
| title_short | Occurrence of Uncultured <i>Legionella</i> spp. in Treated Wastewater Effluent and Its Impact on Human Health (SCA.Re.S Project) |
| title_sort | occurrence of uncultured i legionella i spp in treated wastewater effluent and its impact on human health sca re s project |
| topic | wastewater treatment plant <i>Legionella</i> non-<i>pneumophila</i> detection methods viability groundwater |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/9/786 |
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