Legionella spp. in Puerto Rico cooling towers
- Univ. of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras (Puerto Rico)
Water samples from air conditioning cooling towers receiving different treatment protocols on five large municipal buildings in San Juan, P.R., were assayed for various Legionella spp. and serogroups by using direct immunofluorescence. Several water quality parameters were also measured for each sample. Guinea pigs were inoculated with water samples to confirm pathogenicity and recover viable organisms. Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 to 6, L. bozemanii, L. micdadei, L. dumoffii, and L. gormanii were observed in at least one of the cooling towers. L. pneumophila was the most abundant species; its density reached 10{sup 5} cells per ml, which is within the range that is considered potentially pathogenic to humans. A significantly higher density of L. pneumophila was observed in the cooling tower water that was not being treated with biocides. Percent respiration (INT) and total cell activity (acridine orange direct count) were inversely correlated with bacterial density. This study demonstrates that Legionella spp. are present in tropical air-conditioning cooling systems and that, without continuous biocide treatment, they may reach densities that present a health risk.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00001
- OSTI ID:
- 5086230
- Journal Information:
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA), Vol. 54:10; ISSN 0099-2240
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COOLING TOWERS
BIOLOGICAL FOULING
LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA
IMMUNOASSAY
CONTAMINATION
COOLING SYSTEMS
GUINEA PIGS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
PUERTO RICO
SAMPLING
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
BACTERIA
BIOASSAY
BUILDINGS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION II
FOULING
GREATER ANTILLES
HAZARDS
ISLANDS
MAMMALS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MICROORGANISMS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RODENTS
TOWERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WEST INDIES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)