Case 69. 

Relationship between Legionella pneumophila and free-living ameba in warm water
　 　 　 　
　 The free-living ameba likes 42℃ (hot spring water), and L. pneumophila requires the ameba for replication. 　
　 　 　 　

　

 　 L. pneumophila belongs to the obligate intracellular bacteria, so that ameba or macrophages are definitely needed for them to grow. Hot spring bathing is a risk factor of Legionella pneumonia in the aged.