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Article: Legionnaires' Disease
- Article from:
- World of Microbiology and Immunology
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Legionnaires' disease
Legionnaires' disease is a type of
pneumonia
caused by
Legionella
bacteria
. The bacterial species responsible for Legionnaires' disease is
L. pneumophila.
Major symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, and a cough that is initially nonproductive. Definitive diagnosis relies on specific laboratory tests for the bacteria, bacterial antigens, or antibodies produced by the body's
immune system
. As with other types of pneumonia, Legionnaires' disease poses the greatest threat to people who are elderly, ill, or immunocompromised.
Legionella
bacteria were first identified as a cause of pneumonia in 1976, following an outbreak of pneumonia among people who ...