Isolation and characterization of Mycobacterium avium isolates from African water samples.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Isolation and characterization of Mycobacterium avium isolates from African water samples.

Abstr Gen Meet Am Soc Microbiol. 1993;93:182 (abstract no. U-79). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASM93/93291801
Eaton T; Falkinham JO; Von Reyn CF; Waddell R; Gilks CF; Brindle RJ; VPI&SU, Blacksburg 24061-0406.

Abstract: Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare (M. avium complex, MAC) are opportunistic human pathogens whose source of infection is the environment. Though disseminated MAC infection occurs in as many as 25% of United States AIDS patients, the prevalence of disseminated MAC infection in African AIDS patients is significantly lower. To test the hypothesis that MAC are absent in the African environment, we attempted to recover M. avium complex isolates from water samples collected in Nairobi, Kenya and Kinsasha, Zaire. MAC positive isolates were found in 2 of 8 (25%) samples collected in Kinsasha, Zaire (average: 76 MAC colony-forming units/ml sample). Two of 31 (6%) samples from Nairobi, Kenya yielded MAC (average: 26 MAC colony-forming units/ml sample). One Mycobacterium species X isolate was recovered from Zaire. Further, the isolates were characterized with regard to serotype, biotype, and presence of plasmids and IS901. We conclude that the lower prevalence of MAC infection in African AIDS patients is not due to the absence of M. avium complex in the African environment.

Keywords: Africa/EPIDEMIOLOGY AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY Comparative Study Human Kenya Mycobacterium avium/*ISOLATION & PURIF Mycobacterium avium Complex/*ISOLATION & PURIF Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection/EPIDEMIOLOGY Prevalence United States/EPIDEMIOLOGY *Water Microbiology Zaire ABSTRACT
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