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Legionellosis is the collective term for all cases of Legionella
infection and includes Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever.
Table 1: Infection definitions
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Infection
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Definition
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Legionnaires' disease
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pneumonic form of the disease caused by L.
pneumophila or other Legionella species
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|
Pontiac fever
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acute, self-limiting influenza-like illness without
pneumonia. When observed the illness has a high attack rate, though given the
non-specific nature of symptoms un-linked cases are rarely seen
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Non-pneumonic cases of legionellosis
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occasionally, L. pneumophila urinary antigen
positive cases are detected which do not fit into the definition of Pontiac fever and
have no evidence of any pneumonia
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Another species of Legionella , L. micdadei , is
responsible for a similar form of the illness without pneumonia called Lochgoilhead
fever after an outbreak in Lochgoilhead, Scotland. The incubation period can be up to 9
days. A high percentage of those exposed to this agent tend to be affected. However, there
have been no recorded deaths associated with either Pontiac or Lochgoilhead fevers.
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