Systemic Character of Legionnaires’ Disease – A Murine Model
Marina Šantić1*, Michael Bozic2, Harald H. Kessler2 and Miljenko Dorić1
1Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, HR-51000 Rijeka, Croatia
2Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Institute of Hygiene, KF-University Graz, Universitaetplatz 4, A-8010 Graz, Austria
Article history:
Received: November 4, 2002
Accepted: June 9, 2003
Key words:
Legionnaires’ disease, systemic disease, animal model, real-time polymerase chain reaction
Summary:
In contrast to lung infection caused by Legionella pneumophila, little is known about the pathogenesis of this disease in other organs. In this study, we analyzed the number of colony forming units (CFU) of legionellae not only in lungs but also in EDTA plasma, liver, spleen and kidneys. The number of CFU was determined 2, 24, 48, 72 and 168 h after intratracheal inoculation. Results showed that the inflammatory response was mostly pronounced in lungs. Legionellae, however, were also found in EDTA plasma and all the other investigated organs. The duration of infection was most protracted in lungs, with persistence for at least 168 h. In the remaining organs, legionellae were found for a maximum of 72 h after inoculation. Besides the culture methods used for detection of CFU we also used LightCycler (LC) PCR to confirm the presence of bacteria in the blood of intratracheally infected mice. By this method the bacterial DNA could be detected during the first two days of post infection.
*Corresponding author: 
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