A Feasibility Study for the Detection of Airborne Legionella pneumophila Using The Polymerase Chain Reaction

Current methods to sample and analyze bioaerosols require that organism viability and culturability be maintained. This can lead to an underestimation of airborne bacterial concentrations when the sampling method has inherent qualities which damage or kill fragile microbes. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and associated analytical techniques require only intact cellular DNA to identify organisms contained in a sample; thus eliminating the requirement to maintain viability and culturability. This investigation has shown it is feasible to capture airborne Legionella pneumophila using either an AGI-30 impinger or a polycarbonate membrane filter, and identify and quantify the organism using PCR coupled with reverse dot-blot hybridization analysis and/or gel electrophoresis. In addition, the comparison of plate counts with acridine orange direct counts (AODCs), underscored the fact that traditional methods of analysis underestimate airborne bacterial concentration.Master of Science in Public Healt