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Evaluation of a most probable number method for the enumeration of Legionella pneumophila from potable and related water samples
Author(s) -
Sartory D.P.,
Spies K.,
Lange B.,
Schneider S.,
Langer B.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/lam.12719
Subject(s) - legionella pneumophila , enumeration , potable water , legionella , agar , microbiology and biotechnology , tray , filtration (mathematics) , most probable number , biology , mathematics , environmental science , bacteria , environmental engineering , botany , statistics , genetics , combinatorics
Abstract This study compared the performance of a novel MPN method (Legiolert/Quanti‐Tray) with the ISO 11731‐2 membrane filtration method for the enumeration of Legionella pneumophila from 100 ml potable water and related samples. Data from a multi‐laboratory study analysed according to ISO 17994 showed that Legiolert™/Quanti‐Tray® yielded on average higher counts of L. pneumophila . The Legiolert medium had a high specificity of 96·4%. The new method represents a significant improvement in the enumeration of L. pneumophila from drinking water‐related samples.Significance and Impact of the Study: Legionella pneumophila is an opportunistic pathogen of major concern. The current large volume quantitative method employs membrane filtration ( MF ) and selective culture on GVPC agar followed by confirmation of isolates by serology ( ISO 11731‐2) We present here the results of a multi‐laboratory evaluation of a most probable number ( MPN ) in‐situ confirmed method (Legiolert™/Quanti‐Tray®). The results indicate that Legiolert/Quanti‐Tray yielded on average higher counts of L. pneumophila than ISO 11731‐2. This development significantly improves and simplifies the enumeration of L. pneumophila from potable water samples.