Comparison of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and conventional culture for the detection of Legionella species in hot spring water samples in Japan.

摘要

We detected Legionella species in 125 samples of hot spring bath water from various places in Japan using the culture and LAMP methods, and compared the results of the 2 methods. Legionella spp. was detected in 40 samples in the culture test, and 38 of these (95.0%) were also positive in the LAMP test, showing a high rate of consistency. Of the 85 negative samples in the culture test, 38 samples (44.7%) were positive in the LAMP test. The positive rate in the LAMP test was higher than that in the current culture test; the test procedure was simple, and judgments could be made in a few hours, showing that the LAMP method is useful for the rapid detection of Legionella spp..