Legionella spp. in Puerto Rico cooling towers

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA)

OSTI ID:5086230

Negron-Alvira, A; Perez-Suarez, I; Hazen, T C ^[1]

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1. 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), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA) Vol. 54:10; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ANIMALS
BACTERIA
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL FOULING
BUILDINGS
CONTAMINATION
COOLING SYSTEMS
COOLING TOWERS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION II
FOULING
GREATER ANTILLES
GUINEA PIGS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IMMUNOASSAY
ISLANDS
LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA
MAMMALS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MICROORGANISMS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
PUERTO RICO
RODENTS
SAMPLING
TOWERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION
WEST INDIES