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. 2024 May;30(5):1022-1025.
doi: 10.3201/eid3005.231383.

Recurrence, Microevolution, and Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Legionella pneumophila Sequence Type 1905, Portugal, 2014-2022

Vera Manageiro, Vítor Borges, Raquel Rodrigues, Célia Bettencourt, Cecília Silva, João Paulo Gomes, Paulo Gonçalves

Recurrence, Microevolution, and Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Legionella pneumophila Sequence Type 1905, Portugal, 2014-2022

Vera Manageiro et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2024 May.

Abstract

We investigated molecular evolution and spatiotemporal dynamics of atypical Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 sequence type 1905 and determined its long-term persistence and linkage to human disease in dispersed locations, far beyond the large 2014 outbreak epicenter in Portugal. Our finding highlights the need for public health interventions to prevent further disease spread.

Keywords: Legionella pneumophila; Portugal; ST1905; bacteria; genomic epidemiology; outbreak; recurrence.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Geographic spread of 12 Legionella pneumophila sequence type 1905 isolates by probable municipality of exposure (clinical) or sampling (environmental), Lisbon region, Portugal, 2014–2022. Location of 2014 Legionnaires’ disease outbreak is indicated.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Core SNP-based phylogeny of whole-genome sequencing data from 12 Legionella pneumophila isolates obtained from samples collected in 3 interconnected municipalities in the Lisbon region, Portugal. Phylogeny was generated using a maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree, rooted to the L. pneumophila PtVFX/2014 genome sequence (LORH00000000.1) (2). The investigation context, year, source, and genetic diversity profile within L. pneumophila genomes (SNPs, indels, and recombination event) compared with PtVFX/2014, are shown next to the tree. Clin, clinical; env, environmental; ID, identification; o, outbreak investigation; PtVFX, strain from 2014 Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal; SNP, single-nucleotide polymorphism; s, sporadic case investigation.
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