Legionella bacteria are pathogenic bacteria that are present commonly in natural water and human-made water systems with 59 species and 70 serotypes and that causes Legionnaries’ disease and Pontiac fever. Legionella bacteria reproduce due to suitable conditions as they pass through the human-made water systems such as cooling tower, shower head, air conditioners, spa and pools. In the present study, it was determined lowest detection limit of Legionella pneumophila by using conventional culture, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in L. pneumophila ATCC 33152 bacteria and environmental L. pneumophila isolate at different concentrations (102 -1010 cell per liter). When the recovery results of L. pneumophila bacteria were evaluated depending on the concentration; it was found that at least 103 cell per liter for the culture method, 105 cell per liter for the FISH method and 106 cell per liter for semi-nested PCR method. The VBNC phase for the culture method, the prevalence of bacterial density for the FISH and semi-nested PCR method produced some disadvantages in the recovery of Leigonella bacteria. For this reasons, it can be said that the conventional culture method and molecular methods should be studied in support of each other.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Culture, FISH, Legionella, PCR, Recovery, Water Systems
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