PRESENCE OF LEGIONELLA SPP IN THERMAL SPRINGS OF THE CAMPANIA REGION OF SOUTH ITALY

Water samples from 66 thermal springs in the Campania region of South Italy were cultured for Legionella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and i ndicators of faecal pollution. The temperature of the sources ranged f rom 21 degrees C to 59.5 degrees C. Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 7-10, was isolated from two out of 60 sources on the Island of Ischia and Legionella dumoffii from one mainland source. The temperatures of these sources were 35.2 degrees C, 48.2 degrees C, and 52.O degrees C respectively. Twelve sources were positive for P. aeruginosa and 6 for Escherichia coil. Our results found that Legionella spp. were present in only three thermal springs, indicating that in the hydrothermal ar ea of the Campania region the presence of this microbial species is ve ry scarce.