Several thermal areas, also used for leisure purposes, may represent suitable habitats free-living amoebae (FLAs), but few studies have been carried out in search these organisms. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and distribution FLAs by culture detection molecular identification, over a one year-round sampling two sites Central Italy. Two geothermal springs (Site A Site B) were...

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are protozoa ubiquitous in Nature, isolated from a variety of environments worldwide. In addition to their natural distribution, some species have been found to be pathogenic to humans. In the present study a survey was conducted in order to evaluate the presence and to characterize at molecular level the isolates of amoebic organisms collected from different water sou...

Infections with filamentous fungi are common to all animals, but attention is rising especially due to the increasing incidence and high mortality rates observed in immunocompromised human individuals. Here, Aspergillus fumigatus and other members of its genus are the leading causative agents. Attributes like their saprophytic life-style in various ecological niches coupled with nutritional fle...

Controlling organic carbon levels in municipal water has been hypothesized to limit downstream growth of bacteria and opportunistic pathogens in premise plumbing (OPPPs). Here, the relationships between influent organic carbon (0-15,000 µg ozonated fulvic acid /L) and the number of total bacteria [16S rRNA genes and heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs)] and a wide range of OPPPs (gene copy numbers...

In response to growing global interest in organic agriculture, this study delves into the microbial landscape of organically grown raw produce with a focus on food safety. Vegetables that are consumed potential vehicles for transmission any type microorganism capable causing human disease. Free-living amoebae (FLA) ubiquitous protozoa found many ecosystems and can serve as hosts pathogenic bact...

Flushing is a common corrective action recommended by Legionella management guidelines to remove stagnant water and replenish disinfectant. Due age different local regulations, buildings may receive with low or no residual In such situations, the evidence for flushing efficacy often anecdotal, benefits are poorly quantified. Using pilot-scale premise plumbing system, flushed shower outlets were...

The Legionnaires' disease bacterium, Legionella pneumophila, is a facultative intracellular pathogen that invades and replicates within two evolutionarily distant hosts, free living protozoa and mammalian cells. Invasion and intracellular replication within protozoa are thought to be major factors in the transmission of Legionnaires' disease. We have recently reported the identification of a ga...