What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to investigate the genetic variation of Legionella isolates from different water systems and determine their relationship to clinical cases of Legionnaires' disease.

August 5, 2026BMC MicrobiologyOpen Access

Genetic relatedness between clinical and environmental Legionella isolates reveals limited within-system diversity and differences between hot- and cold-water systems

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Authors

SMSilja MentulaFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare JHJani HalkilahtiFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare PAPiia AiraksinenFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare

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Implication

Randomized trial assesses genetic variation in Legionella isolates from hot- and cold-water systems, indicating a genetic link between environmental and clinical sources.

Key Points

This research aims to investigate the genetic variation of Legionella isolates from different water systems and determine their relationship to clinical cases of Legionnaires' disease.
Retrospective analysis of LD cases in Finland from 2017 to 2024 with whole-genome sequencing data.
Assessment of genetic relatedness using cgMLST, defining close relatedness by ≤4 allele differences.
Comparison of 22 clinical isolates and 65 environmental isolates across different water systems.
93% of clinical and environmental isolates were closely related, with 83% showing identical cgMLST types.
Hot-water isolates matched patient isolates 85% of the time compared to 44% for cold-water isolates (p = 0.001).
Minor allelic differences were found in 60% of cases, indicating low microdiversity within systems.

Cite This Study

Mentula et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a72e85b226790f37065835f https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-026-05481-y

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Implication

Randomized trial assesses genetic variation in Legionella isolates from hot- and cold-water systems, indicating a genetic link between environmental and clinical sources.

Genetic relatedness between clinical and environmental Legionella isolates reveals limited within-system diversity and differences between hot- and cold-water systems

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Genetic relatedness between clinical and environmental Legionella isolates reveals limited within-system diversity and differences between hot- and cold-water systems

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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