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Updated: May 9, 2026
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Use of Galleria mellonella as a Model Organism to Study Legionella pneumophila Infection
Published on: November 22, 2013
Dual infections with different Legionella strains
G Wewalka1, D Schmid, T G Harrison
1AGES, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Vienna, Austria.
Summary
Dual Legionella infections, involving multiple strains or species, are rare but documented in Europe. Detecting these coinfections is crucial for understanding Legionella epidemiology and infection sources.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Legionellosis is a severe pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria.
- Dual infections with multiple Legionella strains are infrequently reported.
- Understanding coinfection frequency is vital for public health.
Observation:
- A case of dual Legionella pneumophila infection (serogroup 1 and 3) was identified in Austria in 2010.
- European Legionella Reference Laboratories reported 14 additional dual infection cases between 2002 and 2012.
- These 15 cases included mixed species, mixed serogroups, and mixed MAb-types of L. pneumophila.
Findings:
- The median age of patients with dual Legionella infections was 56 years.
- Immunosuppression, particularly post-transplant or due to malignancy, was noted in 6 of 15 patients.
- A significant mortality rate of 33% (5 of 15 deaths) within 30 days was observed.
Implications:
- Enhanced detection of dual Legionella infections is necessary for accurate source attribution.
- Identifying coinfections improves the understanding of Legionella infection epidemiology.
- This knowledge can inform targeted prevention and control strategies for Legionnaires' disease.
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