Legionella Species
It’s quite common to find Legionella species other than Legionella pneumophila in cooling towers and water distribution systems. To date, more than 58 Legionella species have been described in published articles. Of these approximately 25 are linked to disease, namely Legionella pneumophila species serogroup 1, 3, 4, and 6.
Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is the most virulent strain causing most infections. The remaining non-pneumophila species (found in water and soil) are considered non-pathogenic until shown to cause disease. Of the CDC reported cases less than 5% is attributed to non-pathogenic species. Since risk for infection is rare, adjusting your response to an adequate threat level is appropriate.
To learn more, click the table rows below for each Legionella species.
| LEGIONELLA SPECIES | SEROGROUP | HUMAN INFECTION | REFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| L. adelaidensis | No | Legionella adelaidensis, a new species isolated from cooling tower water. Benson RF, et al.) J Clin Microbiol. 1991 May;29(5):1004-6 | |
| L. anisa | Yes | Pleural infection caused by Legionella anisa. Bornstein N, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1989 Sep;27(9):2100-1. | |
| L. beliardensis | No | Legionella gresilensis sp. nov. and Legionella beliardensis sp. nov., isolated from water in France. Lo Presti F, et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2001 Nov;51(Pt 6):1949-57. | |
| L. birminghamensis | Yes | Legionella birminghamensis sp. nov. isolated from a cardiac transplant recipient. Wilkinson H, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1987 Nov;25(11):2120-2 | |
| L. bozemanii | 1 | Yes | Pneumonia due to Legionella bozemanii: first report of a case in Europe. Mitchell RG. et al. J Infect. 1984 May;8(3):251-5 |
| L. bozemanii | 2 | No | Legionella bozemanii serogroup 2: a new etiological agent. Tang PW. et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1984 Jan;19(1):30-3. |
| L. brunensis | No | Legionella moravica sp. nov. and Legionella brunensis sp. nov. isolated from cooling-tower water. Wilkinson HW. et al. Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol. 1988 Jul-Aug;139(4):393-402. | |
| L. busanensis | No | Legionella busanensis sp. nov., isolated from cooling tower water in Korea. Park MY. et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2003 Jan;53(Pt 1):77-80. | |
| L. cardiaca | Yes | Legionella cardiaca sp. nov., isolated from a case of native valve endocarditis in a human heart. Pearce MM et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2012 Dec;62(Pt 12):2946-54. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.039248-0. Epub 2012 Jan 27. | |
| L. cherrii | Yes | Disease due to the Legionellaceae (other than Legionella pneumophila). Historical, microbiological, clinical, and epidemiological review. Fang GD et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 1989 Mar;68(2):116-32. | |
| L. cincinnatiensis | Yes | Legionella cincinnatiensis sp. nov. isolated from a patient with pneumonia. Thacker WL. J Clin Microbiol. 1988 Mar;26(3):418-20. | |
| L. clemsonensis | Yes | Legionella clemsonensis sp. nov., - a green fluorescing Legionella strain from a patient with pneumonia. Palmer A, Painter J., et al., Microbiol Immunol. 2016 Sep 13. doi: 10.1111/1348-0421.12439. [Epub ahead of print] |
|
| L. donaldsonii | No | Legionella prevalence in wastewater treatment plants of Taiwan. Huang SW et al. Water Sci Technol. 2009;60(5):1303-10. doi: 10.2166/wst.2009.410 | |
| L. drancourtii | No | Legionella drancourtii sp. nov., a strictly intracellular amoebal pathogen. La Scola B et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2004 May;54(Pt 3):699-703. |
|
| L. dresdenensis | No | Legionella dresdenensis sp. nov., isolated from river water. Lück PC. et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2010 Nov;60(Pt 11):2557-62. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.017863-0. Epub 2009 Dec 11. |
|
| L. drozanskii | No | Legionella drozanskii sp. nov., Legionella rowbothamii sp. nov. and Legionella fallonii sp. nov.: three unusual new Legionella species. Adeleke AA et al.Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2001 May;51(Pt 3):1151-60. | |
| L. dumoffii | Yes | Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella dumoffii in distilled water. Joly JR. et al. CMAJ. 1986 Dec 1;135(11):1274-7. | |
| L. erythra | No | Lipopolysaccharides of Legionella erythra and Legionella oakridgensis. Sonesson A. et al. Can J Microbiol. 1994 Aug;40(8):666-71. | |
| L. fairfieldensis | No | Legionella fairfieldensis sp. nov. isolated from cooling tower waters in Australia. Thacker WL et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1991 Mar;29(3):475-8. | |
| L. fallonii | No | Legionella drozanskii sp. nov., Legionella rowbothamii sp. nov. and Legionella fallonii sp. nov.: three unusual new Legionella species. Adeleke AA et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2001 May;51(Pt 3):1151-60. | |
| L. feeleii | 1 | Yes | Legionella feeleii -associated pneumonia in humans. Palutke WA et al. Am J Clin Pathol. 1986 Sep;86(3):348-51. |
| L. feeleii | 2 | Yes | Second serogroup of Legionella feeleii strains isolated from humans. Thacker WL et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Jul;22(1):1-4. |
| L. geestiana | No | Five new Legionella species isolated from water. Dennis PJ et al. Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1993 Apr;43(2):329-37. | |
| L. genomospecies 1 | No | Legionella waltersii sp. nov. and an unnamed Legionella genomospecies isolated from water in Australia. Benson RF et al. Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1996 Jul;46(3):631-4. | |
| L. gormanii | Yes | First isolation of Legionella gormanii from human disease. Griffith ME et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1988 Feb;26(2):380-1. | |
| L. gratiana | No | Legionella gratiana sp. nov. isolated from French spa water. Bornstein N et al. Res Microbiol. 1989 Oct;140(8):541-52. | |
| L. gresilensis | No | Legionella gresilensis sp. nov. and Legionella beliardensis sp. nov., isolated from water in France. Lo Presti F. et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2001 Nov;51(Pt 6):1949-57. | |
| L. hackeliae | 1 | Yes | Ten new species of Legionella. Brenner DJ, et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 35: 50-59, 1985. |
| L. hackeliae | 2 | Yes | Second serogroup of Legionella hackeliae isolated from a patient with pneumonia. Wilkinson HW, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Oct;22(4):488-9. |
| L. impletisoli | No | Legionella impletisoli sp. nov. and Legionella yabuuchiae sp. nov., isolated from soils contaminated with industrial wastes in Japan. Kuroki H, et al. Syst Appl Microbiol. 2007 Jun;30(4):273-9. Epub 2007 Jan 2. | |
| L. israelensis | No | Seasonal distribution of legionellae isolated from various types of water in Israel. Bercovier H, et al. Isr J Med Sci. 1986 Sep;22(9):644-6. | |
| L. jamestowniensis | No | Infection of macrophage-like cells by Legionella species that have not been associated with disease. O'Connell WA, et al. Infect Immun. 1996 Oct;64(10):4381-4. | |
| Candidatus L. jeonii | No | Phylogenetic characterization of Legionella-like endosymbiotic X-bacteria in Amoeba proteus: a proposal for 'Candidatus Legionella jeonii' sp. nov. Park M, et al. Environ Microbiol. 2004 Dec;6(12):1252-63. | |
| L. jordanis | Yes | Aortic valve endocarditis associated with Legionella infection after Mycoplasma pneumonia. Littrup P, et al. Br Heart J. 1987 Sep;58(3):293-5. | |
| L. lansingensis | Yes | Legionella lansingensis sp. nov. isolated from a patient with pneumonia and underlying chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Thacker WL, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1992 Sep;30(9):2398-401. | |
| L. londiniensis | No | Five new Legionella species isolated from water. Dennis PJ, et al. Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1993 Apr;43(2):329-37. | |
| L. longbeachae | 1 | Yes | Legionella longbeachae species nova, another etiologic agent of human pneumonia. McKinney RM, et al. Ann Intern Med. 1981 Jun;94(6):739-43. |
| L. longbeachae | 2 | Yes | Recognition of a second serogroup of Legionella longbeachae. Bibb WF, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1981 Dec;14(6):674-7. |
| L. lytica | No | Legionella-like and other amoebal pathogens as agents of community-acquired pneumonia. Marrie TJ, et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2001 Nov-Dec;7(6):1026-9. | |
| L. maceachernii | Yes | Fatal Legionella maceachernii pneumonia. Wilkinson HW, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Dec;22(6):1055 | |
| L. massiliensis | No | Legionella tunisiensis sp. nov. and Legionella massiliensis sp. nov., isolated from environmental water samples. Campocasso A, et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2012 Dec;62(Pt 12):3003-6. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.037853-0. Epub 2012 Feb 3. | |
| L. micdadei | Yes | Opportunistic lung infection due to "Pittsburgh Pneumonia Agent". Myerowitz RL, et al. N Engl J Med. 1979 Nov 1;301(18):953-8. | |
| L. moravica | No | Legionella moravica sp. nov. and Legionella brunensis sp. nov. isolated from cooling-tower water. Wilkinson HW, et al. Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol. 1988 Jul-Aug;139(4):393-402. | |
| L. nagasakii/nagasakiensis | No | Legionella nagasakiensis sp. nov., isolated from water samples and from a patient with pneumonia. Yang G, et al. nt J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2012 Feb;62(Pt 2):284-8. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.027193-0. Epub 2011 Mar 11. | |
| L. nautarum | No | Five new Legionella species isolated from water. Dennis PJ, et al. Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1993 Apr;43(2):329-37. | |
| L. norrlandica | No | Legionella norrlandica sp. nov., isolated from the biopurification systems of wood processing plants. Rizzardi K, Winiecka-Krusnell J. et al.,Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2015 Feb;65(Pt 2):598-603. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.068940-0. Epub 2014 Nov 18. | |
| L. oakridgensis | Yes | Legionella oakridgensis: laboratory diagnosis of a human infection. Tang PW, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Mar;21(3):462-3. | |
| L. parisiensis | Yes | The first clinical isolate of Legionella parisiensis from a liver transplant patient with pneumonia. Lo Presti F, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1997 Jul;35(7):1706-9. | |
| L. pneumophila (Philadelphia 1) | 1 | Yes | Classification of the Legionnaires' disease bacterium: Legionella pneumophila, genus novum, species nova, of the family Legionellaceae, familia nova. Brenner DJ, et a. Ann Intern Med. 1979 Apr;90(4):656-8. |
| L. pneumophila (Knoxville 1) | 1 | Yes | Legionellae isolated from clinical and environmental samples in Spain (1983-90): monoclonal typing of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates. Pelaz C, et al. Epidemiol Infect. 1992 Jun;108(3):397-402. |
| L. pneumophila (Benidorm 030 E) | 1 | Yes | Outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at University Hospital, Nottingham. Epidemiology, microbiology and control. Colville A, et al. Epidemiol Infect. 1993 Feb;110(1):105-16. |
| L. pneumophila (France 5811) | 1 | Yes | Evaluation of different primers for DNA fingerprinting of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 strains by polymerase chain reaction. Wiese J, et al. Int J Med Microbiol. 2004 Oct;294(6):401-6. |
| L. pneumophila (Allentown 1) | 1 | Yes | Legionellae isolated from clinical and environmental samples in Spain (1983-90): monoclonal typing of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates. Pelaz C, et al. Epidemiol Infect. 1992 Jun;108(3):397-402. |
| L. pneumophila (OLDA) | 1 | Yes | Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 population in Italy by monoclonal subtyping. Castellani Pastoris M., et al. Epidemiol Infect. 1990 Aug;105(1):169-74. |
| Legionella pneumophila (Oxford 4032 E) | 1 | Yes | Epidemiological studies using monoclonal antibodies to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Tobin JO, et al. Isr J Med Sci. 1986 Oct;22(10):711-4. |
| Legionella pneumophila (Bellingham) | 1 | Yes | Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 population in Italy by monoclonal subtyping. Castellani Pastoris M, et al. Epidemiol Infect. 1990 Aug;105(1):169-74. |
| Legionella pneumophila (Heysham 1) | 1 | Yes | Development of a standardized subgrouping scheme for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 using monoclonal antibodies. Joly JR, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1986 Apr;23(4):768-71. |
| Legionella pneumophila (Camperdown 1) | 1 | Yes | Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 population in Italy by monoclonal subtyping. Castellani Pastoris M, et al. Epidemiol Infect. 1990 Aug;105(1):169-74. |
| Legionella pneumophila (Togus 1) | 2 | Yes | Recognition of a new serogroup of Legionnaires disease bacterium. McKinney RM, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1979 Jan;9(1):103-7. |
| Legionella pneumophila (Bloomington 2) | 3 | Yes | Fatal pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 3: demonstration of the bacilli in extrathoracic organs. Watts JC, et al. Ann Intern Med. 1980 Feb;92(2 Pt 1):186-8. |
| Legionella pneumophila (Los Angeles) | 4 | Yes | Pyelonephritis associated with Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 4. Dorman SA, et al. Ann Intern Med. 1980 Dec;93(6):835-7. |
| L. pneumophila (Portland 1) | 4 | Yes | Legionella pneumophila serogroup Lansing 3 isolated from a patient with fatal pneumonia, and descriptions of L. pneumophila subsp. pneumophila subsp. nov., L. pneumophila subsp. fraseri subsp. nov., and L. pneumophila subsp. pascullei subsp. nov. Brenner DJ, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1988 Sep;26(9):1695-703. |
| L. pneumophila (Dallas 1E) | 5 | Yes | Serological and genotypic diversity among serogroup 5- reacting environmental Legionella isolates. Garrity GM, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1982 Apr;15(4):646-53. |
| L. pneumophila (Cambridge 1) | 5 | Yes | Legionella pneumophila: monoclonal antibody typing of clinical and environmental isolates. Brindle RJ, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1982 Apr;15(4):646-53. |
| L. pneumophila (Chicago 1) | 6 | Yes | Legionella pneumophila serogroup six: isolation from cases of legionellosis, identification by immunofluorescence staining, and immunological response to infection. McKinney RM, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1980 Sep;12(3):395-401. |
| L. pneumophila (Chicago 8) | 7 | Yes | Isolation and characterization of a seventh serogroup of Legionella pneumophila. Bibb WF, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1983 Feb;17(2):346-8. |
| L. pneumophila (Concord 3) | 8 | Yes | New serogroup of Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 8. Bissett ML, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1983 May;17(5):887-91. |
| Legionella pneumophila (IN-23-G1-C2) | 9 | Yes | Legionella pneumophila serogroup 9: a cause of human pneumonia. Edelstein PH, et al. Ann Intern Med. 1984 Aug;101(2):196-8. |
| Legionella pneumophila (Leiden 1) | 10 | Yes | Water-related nosocomial pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 and 10. Meenhorst PL, et al. Infect Dis. 1985 Aug;152(2):356-64. |
| L. pneumophila (797-PA-H) | 11 | Yes | 11th serogroup of Legionella pneumophila isolated from a patient with fatal pneumonia. Thacker WL, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1986 Jun;23(6):1146-7. |
| Legionella pneumophila (570-CO-H) | 12 | Yes | Legionella pneumophila serogroup 12 isolated from human and environmental sources. Thacker WL, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1987 Mar;25(3):569-70. |
| Legionella pneumophila (82A3105) | 13 | Yes | Thirteenth serogroup of Legionella pneumophila isolated from patients with pneumonia. Lindquist DS, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1988 Mar;26(3):586-7. |
| Legionella pneumophila (1169-MN-H) | 14 | Yes | Legionella pneumophila serogroup 14 isolated from patients with fatal pneumonia. Benson RF, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1988 Feb;26(2):382. |
| Legionella pneumophila (Lansing 3) | 15 | Yes | Legionella pneumophila serogroup Lansing 3 isolated from a patient with fatal pneumonia, and descriptions of L. pneumophila subsp. pneumophila subsp. nov., L. pneumophila subsp. fraseri subsp. nov., and L. pneumophila subsp. pascullei subsp. nov. Brenner DJ, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1988 Sep;26(9):1695-703. |
| L. quateirensis | No | Five new Legionella species isolated from water. Dennis PJ, et al. Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1993 Apr;43(2):329-37. | |
| L. quinlivanii | 1 | No | Legionella quinlivanii sp. nov. isolated from water. Benson RF, et al. Curr. Microbiol. 18: 195-197, 1989 |
| L. quinlivanii | 2 | No | Second serogroup of Legionella quinlivanii isolated from two unrelated sources in the United Kingdom. Birtles RJ, et al. J Appl Bacteriol. 1991 Nov;71(5):402-6. |
| L. rowbothamii | No | Legionella drozanskii sp. nov., Legionella rowbothamii sp. nov. and Legionella fallonii sp. nov.: three unusual new Legionella species. Adeleke AA, et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2001 May;51(Pt 3):1151-60. | |
| L. rubrilucens | Yes | Isolation of Legionella rubrilucens from a pneumonia patient co-infected with Legionella pneumophila. Matsui M, et al. J Med Microbiol. 2010 Oct;59(Pt 10):1242-6. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.016089-0. Epub 2010 Jun 17 | |
| L. sainthelensi | 1 | Yes | Infections due to Legionella sainthelensi in New Zealand. Chereshsky AY, et al. N Z Med J. 1986 May 14;99(801):335. |
| L. sainthelensi | 2 | Yes | Legionella sainthelensi serogroup 2 isolated from patients with pneumonia. Benson RF, et al. Res Microbiol. 1990 May;141(4):453-63. |
| L. santicrucis | No | Growth of 28 Legionella species on selective culture media: a comparative study. Lee TC, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1993 Oct;31(10):2764-8. | |
| L. saoudiensis | No | Legionella saoudiensis sp. nov., isolated from sewage water sample. Leena Hussein Bajrai1, Esam Ibraheem Azhar2, et. al. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary (Published Ahead of Print: 02 August, 2016) | |
| L. shakespearei | No | Legionella shakespearei sp. nov., isolated from cooling tower water. Verma UK, et al. Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1992 Jul;42(3):404-7. | |
| L. spiritensis | 1 | No | Serological diversity within the species Legionella spiritensis. Harrison TG, et al. J Appl Bacteriol. 1988 Nov;65(5):425-31. |
| L. steelei | No | Legionella steelei sp. nov., isolated from human respiratory specimens in California, USA, and South Australia. Edelstein PH, et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2012 Aug;62(Pt 8):1766-71. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.035709-0. Epub 2011 Sep 23. | |
| L. steigerwaltii | No | Ten New Species of Legionella. Brenner DJ, et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 35: 50-59, 1985 | |
| L. taurinenesis | No | Legionella taurinensis sp. nov., a new species antigenically similar to Legionella spiritensis., Lo Presti F, et al. Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1999 Apr;49 Pt 2:397-403. | |
| L. tucsonensis | Yes | Legionella tucsonensis sp. nov. isolated from a renal transplant recipient. Thacker WL, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1989 Aug;27(8):1831-4. |
|
| L. tunisiensis | No | Legionella tunisiensis sp. nov. and Legionella massiliensis sp. nov., isolated from environmental water samples. Campocasso A., Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2012 Dec;62(Pt 12):3003-6. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.037853-0. Epub 2012 Feb 3. | |
| L. wadsworthii | Yes | Legionella wadsworthii species nova: a cause of human pneumonia. Edelstein PH, et al. Ann Intern Med. 1982 Dec;97(6):809-13. | |
| L. waltersii | No | Legionella waltersii--a novel cause of pneumonia? König C, et al. Acta Paediatr. 2005 Oct;94(10):1505-7. | |
| L. worsleiensis | No | Five new Legionella species isolated from water. Dennis PJ, et al. Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1993 Apr;43(2):329-37. | |
| L. yabuuchiae | No | Legionella impletisoli sp. nov. and Legionella yabuuchiae sp. nov., isolated from soils contaminated with industrial wastes in Japan. Kuroki H, et al. Syst Appl Microbiol. 2007 Jun;30(4):273-9. Epub 2007 Jan 2. |