Seroprevalence of Antibodies Against Legionella Species in Northeastern Australian Blood Donors, 2016 and 2023

Juniper Lethbridge; Wesley Freppel; Mei Fong Ho; Eloise B. Skinner; Lina Rustanti; Eileen Roulis; Penny A. Rudd; Helen M. Faddy; Megan K. Young; Lara J. Herrero

doi:10.1093/infdis/jiaf407

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Seroprevalence of Antibodies Against Legionella Species in Northeastern Australian Blood Donors, 2016 and 2023

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Seroprevalence of Antibodies Against Legionella Species in Northeastern Australian Blood Donors, 2016 and 2023

Juniper Lethbridge, Wesley Freppel, Mei Fong Ho, Eloise B. Skinner, Lina Rustanti, Eileen Roulis, Penny A. Rudd, Helen M. Faddy, Megan K. Young and Lara J. Herrero

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol.233(1), pp.e239-e249

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaf407

PMCID: PMC12811873

PMID: 40905692

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Abstract

IgG antibodies

seropositive

legionella

pneumonia

risk-factors

Background In 2021–2022, Queensland, Australia observed an increase in Legionnaire's disease cases, predominantly due to Legionella longbeachae. This study assessed seroprevalence at time points 2016 and 2023, representing before and after the higher incidence and explored if demographic, environmental and geographical factors associated with legionellosis seroprevalence. Methods A total of 1001 human plasma samples (496 from 2016/505 from 2023) were analysed for the presence of Legionella antibodies (IgG) using indirect immunofluorescence assays. Primary screens detected IgG to L. pneumophila serogroups (SG) 1–6, SG 7–14, or “other” Legionella spp. Samples positive for “other” underwent secondary screening for L. longbeachae SG 1 and 2. A chi-square test assessed associations between seroprevalence and demographics, while a generalized linear model evaluated rainfall, temperature, and land cover associations. Results While total Legionella seroprevalence remained stable (32.46% vs 32.28%) between 2016 and 2023, we observed a decrease in L. pneumophila (SG 1–6: 19%–13% [P = .0182] and SG 7–14: 24%–18% [P = .0257]) and an increase in L. longbeachae (1%–3% [P = .0355]) seropositivity. L. pneumophila seroprevalence positively associated with higher rainfall and land cover, with croplands and urban areas showing increased prevalence. Conclusions Between 2016 and 2023, total Legionella seroprevalence remained unchanged. However, rainfall and specific land cover types were positively associated with seropositivity for certain Legionella spp. This study highlights the importance of assessing Legionella exposure risks in high-risk areas, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, immunosuppressed, or those with co-morbidities.

Details

Title: Seroprevalence of Antibodies Against Legionella Species in Northeastern Australian Blood Donors, 2016 and 2023
Authors: Juniper Lethbridge - Griffith University
Wesley Freppel - Griffith University
Mei Fong Ho - Griffith University
Eloise B. Skinner - The University of Queensland
Lina Rustanti - Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
Eileen Roulis - Queensland University of Technology
Penny A. Rudd - Griffith University
Helen M. Faddy - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Biomedicine
Megan K. Young - Griffith University
Lara J. Herrero (Corresponding Author) - Griffith University
Publication details: The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol.233(1), pp.e239-e249
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaf407
ISSN: 1537-6613
PMID: 40905692; PMC12811873
Copyright note: © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-NoDerivs licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial reproduction and distribution of the work, in any medium, provided the original work is not altered or transformed in any way, and that the work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Biomedicine
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991168645802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Immunology; Infectious Diseases; Microbiology

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