Genomic analysis of Legionnaires' disease outbreaks in public bath facilities in Japan.. Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila isolates from patients, environmental wipeouts, and bathhouse water were isolated from outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in public bathhouses in Japan, respectively, and their genetic relatedness was verified using molecular epidemiology analysis methods. SNV analysis using whole-genome data identified clones that were very closely related to patient- and environment-derived isolates, but also identified isolates with slight genetic distance between patient-derived isolates. This genomic approach allowed high-resolution analysis of isolates that would normally be considered identical genotypes by PFGE or SBT, demonstrating the importance of genomic analysis in population cases.