Infections caused by nonpneumophila species of legionella

Abstract

There are 52 recognized species of the genus Legionella of which 25 have been implicated in human disease. These organisms are prevalent within both natural and man-made aquatic environments in which they survive as parasites of protozoa. The vast majority of legionellosis is caused by the well studied opportunistic, intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila. However, other species of Legionella are capable of causing human disease, though primarily in immunocompromised people and not in large community outbreaks like those that can occur with L. pneumophila. L. longbeachae and L. micdadei account for the majority of nonpneumophila legionellosis with most other Legionella species associa..