{{Short description|Species of bacterium}} {{Speciesbox | image = | genus = Legionella | species = anisa | authority = Gorman et al. 1985, sp. nov. }}
'''''Legionella anisa''''' is a Gram-negative bacterium, one of more than 40 species in the family Legionellaceae. After ''Legionella pneumophila'', this species has been isolated most frequently from water samples. This species is also one of the several pathogenic forms of ''Legionella'' having been associated with rare clinical cases of illness including Pontiac fever<ref>{{cite journal| vauthors=van der Mee-Marquet N, ((Domelier A-S)), Arnault L| title=''Legionella anisa'', a Possible Indicator of Water Contamination by ''Legionella pneumophila''| journal=J. Clin. Microbiol.| volume=44 | issue = 1 | pages=56–9| year=2006| doi=10.1128/JCM.44.1.56-59.2006| pmid=16390948|display-authors=etal| pmc=1351956}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Fenstersheib MD, Miller M, Diggins C, etal | title=Outbreak of Pontiac fever due to Legionella anisa| journal=Lancet| volume=336 | issue = 8706 | pages=35–7| year=1990| doi=10.1016/0140-6736(90)91532-f| pmid=1973219| s2cid=36524922|url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PII0140-6736%2890%2991532-F/abstract| access-date=2013-06-28| url-access=subscription}}</ref> and Legionnaires' disease.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Fallon RJ, Stack BH | title=Legionnaires' disease due to ''Legionella anisa''| journal=J Infect| volume=20 | issue = 3 | pages=227–9| year=1990| doi=10.1016/0163-4453(90)91144-3| pmid=2341733}}</ref>
==History== This species was first isolated from water during a nosocomial outbreak in the United States between March 1980 and June 1981. The type strain of ''L. anisa'' is WA-316-C3 (ATCC 35292).<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Gorman GW, Feeley JC, Steigerwalt A, etal | title=Legionella anisa: a new species of ''Legionella'' isolated from potable waters and cooling tower.|journal=Appl Environ Microbiol| volume=49| pages=305–9| year=1985| pmc=238398| pmid=3985609| issue=2| doi=10.1128/AEM.49.2.305-309.1985}}</ref>
The first reported clinical detection was in 1986, with a female patient in Victoria, Australia, who presented with pneumonia.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Thacker WL, Benson RF, Hawes L, etal | title=Characterization of a ''Legionella anisa'' strain isolated from a patient with pneumonia.| journal=J Clin Microbiol| volume=28| pages=122–3| year=1990| pmc=269549| pmid=2405005| issue=1| doi=10.1128/JCM.28.1.122-123.1990}}</ref> Similar to other ''Legionella'' species, person-to-person transmission has not been documented.
==Structure== Like other ''Legionella'' species, ''L. anisa'' is a thin, aerobic, pleomorphic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative bacterium. A distinguishing characteristic is the ability of colonies to exhibit blue-white autofluorescence when viewed under ultraviolet light. Thus, ''L. anisa'', along with several other species of ''Legionella'', is sometimes referred to as "blue-white" ''Legionella''.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.specialpathogenslab.com/blue-white-legionella.php | title=Blue White ''Legionella'' factsheet| publisher=Special Pathogens Lab| access-date=2018-04-11}}</ref>
==Detection== ''Legionella anisa'' is traditionally detected using the same culture methods as described for ''Legionella''. However, some research suggests ''L. anisa'' may require a co-culture method that accounts for the close relationship with amoebae. When present in a sample but still contained within an amoeba host, the plating method may return false-negative results. Adjusting currently accepted laboratory analysis may be required to better understand the true clinical and environmental prevalence of this particular species.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=La Scola B, Mezi L, Weiller PJ, Raoult D | title=Isolation of Legionella anisa Using an Amoebic Coculture Procedure| journal=J Clin Microbiol| volume=39 | issue = 1 | pages=365–6| year=2001| doi=10.1128/JCM.39.1.365-366.2001| pmid=11136802| pmc=87733}}</ref>
Genome-based analytical techniques may prove especially useful for ''L. anisa'', as a study of isolates from various locations in France suggest that the genomic variation is much more limited and homogenous than other ''Legionella'' species.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Akermi M, Doleans A, Forey F, etal | title=Characterization of the ''Legionella anisa'' population structure by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis| journal=FEMS Microbiol Lett| volume=258| issue=2| pages=204–7| year=2006| doi=10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00216.x| pmid=16640574| doi-access=free}}</ref> In addition, such techniques greatly reduce the time required to obtain results.
==Symptoms== Infections may be asymptomatic, and are strongly associated with the respiratory system. Early symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, shortness of breath, cough, muscle aches and pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, sputum production with presence of blood, nausea, and irritation or inflammation of the nose, throat, or lungs.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/l/legionella_anisa_infection/symptoms.htm| title=Symptoms of ''Legionella anisa'' infection| publisher=Right Diagnosis| access-date=2013-06-28}}</ref>
Most people who breathe in the bacteria do not become ill. The risk of disease is increased with age, smoking, and in people with weakened immune systems. A multinational study found that less than 3% of reported ''Legionella'' infections were due to ''L. anisa''.<ref>{{cite journal| vauthors=Yu VL, Plouffe JF, Pastoris MC| title=Distribution of ''Legionella'' Species and Serogroups Isolated by Culture in Patients with Sporadic Community-Acquired Legionellosis: An International Collaborative Survey| journal=J Infect Dis| volume=186| issue=1| pages=127–8| year=2002| doi=10.1086/341087|display-authors=etal| pmid=12089674| doi-access=}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.hpacultures.org.uk/products/bacteria/detail.jsp?refId=NCTC%2011974&collection=nctc Public Health England Culture Collection - ''Legionella anisa''] * [http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/l/legionella_anisa_infection/intro.htm Right Diagnosis - ''Legionella anisa'' infection] * [http://bacdive.dsmz.de/index.php?search=6732&submit=Search Type strain of ''Legionella anisa'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase]
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Category:Legionellales Category:Bacteria described in 1985