| Legionella pneumophila is a pathogenic bacteria associated to aquatic habitat of natural and artificial environments. Clinical cases of legionellosis have been reported in Brazil but there is a lack of information about the incidence and concentration of this bacterium in environmental sources. Thus, the present study was designed to evaluate the occurrence of legionellae in São Paulo city, Brazil, using different methods of detection and identification. Sixty-seven water and biofilm samples from natural reservoirs and man-made systems were collected and analyzed for the presence of Legionella spp by culturing onto a selective medium, coculture in axenic free-living amoebae and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) assay. Results showed that freshwater of... |
