Prevalence of antibodies to Legionella pneumophila and micdadei in hospitalized children.

217 children were studied by IFA technique to assess the incidence and prevalence of infections due to L. pneumophila and micdadei. The study was completed by a bacteriological environmental research. No acute infection was detected. Nevertheless 10.1% of all patients showed positive antibody titers. This percentage was 0 in children aged less than 1 year and reached 17.7% in children after 3. Most positive sera were due to a pooled antigen containing L. pneumophila serotypes 1, 2, 3. All environmental samples were negative. Our results demonstrate that our area has probably a low endemicity and that children are a low risk population. Nevertheless the absence of acute pulmonary pathology either during the period of investigation or at the anamnestic report seems to strengthen the reported possibility of infection without major pulmonary signs, with a course as an influenza-like syndrome or as an inapparent infection.