@article{jaem2020822,
author={{Chambers, Stephen T. and Slow, Sandy and Withers, Alice and Chim, Michael and Dawson, Krista and Clemens, John and Anderson, Trevor and Williman, Jonathan and Murdoch, David and Scott-Thomas, Amy},
title={Pine Species Provide a Niche for <i>Legionella Longbeachae</i>},
journal={Journal of Applied & Environmental Microbiology},
volume={8},
number={2},
pages={46--52},
year={2020},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/jaem/8/2/2},
issn={2373-6712},
abstract={<i>Legionella longbeachae</i> is the commonest cause of Legionnaires¡¯ disease (LD) nationwide in New Zealand (NZ). Most cases occur in spring and summer (October - January) and are associated with the use of commercial potting mix, which usually contains pine bark. <i>L. longbeachae</i> is an environmental organism but its niche has not yet been defined. Bark samples were taken at chest height from trees in three stands of<i> Pinus radiata</i> (Monterey pine) located in the central South Island of NZ. <i>L. longbeachae</i> DNA was detected by qPCR in 28/400 (7%) samples and from 22/50 (44%) different trees. There was a significant difference in the proportion of positive tests by season: summer 0/50 (0%); autumn 0/50 (0%); winter1/50 (2%); spring 22/50 (44%); (p&lt;0.001). Bark samples from non<i>-P. radiata</i> pine species and adjacent mixed species were then tested. More samples from pine species 22/28 (79%) than non-pine species 6/37 (16%) tested positive for <i>L. longbeachae</i> (p&lt;0.001). Pine species appear to be an important ecological niche for<i> L. longbeachae. </i>To our knowledge this is the second human pathogen to have an arboreal niche. The use of bark from <i>P. radiata</i> in commercial potting mix may contribute to the incidence of LD in New Zealand.},
doi={10.12691/jaem-8-2-2}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}