Population Genomics ofLegionella longbeachaeand Hidden Complexities of Infection Source Attribution

• DOI: 10.3201/eid2305.161165
• Publication Date: 2017-03-24T12:31:11Z
• Authors: Rodrigo Bacigalupe; Diane Lindsay; Giles Edwards; J. Ross Fitzgerald
• Keywords: Legionella

Legionella longbeachae is the primary cause of legionellosis in Australasia and Southeast Asia an emerging pathogen Europe United States; however, our understanding population diversity L. from patient environmental sources limited. We analyzed genomes 64 isolates, which 29 were a cluster cases linked to commercial growing media Scotland 2013 35 non-outbreak-associated isolates other countries. identified extensive genetic across species, associated with intraspecies interspecies gene flow, wide geographic distribution closely related genotypes. Of note, we observed highly diverse pool genotypes within compost samples that precluded establishment infection source. These data represent view genomic will inform strategies for investigating future outbreaks.