Legionellosis in animals in Israel

The lungs of 139 deceased and 29 slaughtered calves were examined for Legionella by culture and by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) with fluorescein-conjugated antisera. About 17% of the cadaver lungs and 4% of lungs from slaughtered animals were positive by DIF, but only two L. pneumophila serogroup 1 strains were isolated from the lungs of two cadavers. In a prevalence study of antibodies to Legionella in domestic and wild animals of various species, titers of 1:64 were demonstrated by the indirect immunofluorescence technique in the sera of 10% of the dairy cattle, 5% of the beef cattle, 4% of the sheep, 22% of the antelopes, 35% of the horses, 36% of the water buffaloes and none of the laboratory rabbits. The isolation of Legionella from lung tissue is the strongest indication so far reported of the possible role of Legionella spp. in animal disease.