A total of 152 aerosol and spider web samples were collected: 96 spider's webs in karst areas in 4 European countries (Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Slovakia), specifically from the surface environment (n = 44), photic zones of caves (n = 26), and inside (aphotic zones) of caves (n = 26), 56 Particulate Matter (PM) samples from the Sloupsko-Sosuvsky Cave System (speleotherapy facility; n = 21) and from aerosol collected from the nearby city of Brno (n = 35) in the Czech Republic. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) were isolated from 13 (13.5%) spider's webs: 5 isolates of saprophytic NTM (Mycobacterium gordonae, M. kumamotonense, M. terrae, and M. terrae complex) and 6 isolates of potentially pathogenic NTM (M. avium ssp. hominissuis, M. fortuitum, M. intracellulare, M. peregrinum and M. triplex). NTM were not isolated from PM collected from cave with the speleotherapy facility although mycobacterial DNA was detected in 8 (14.3%) samples. Temperature (8.2 °C, range 8.0-8.4 °C) and relative humidity (94.7%, range 93.6-96.6%) of air in this cave were relatively constant. The average PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentration was 5.49 µg m-3 and 11.1 µg m-3. Analysed anions (i.e., F-, Cl-, NO2-, SO42-, PO43- and NO3-) originating largely from the burning of wood and coal for residential heating in nearby villages in the surrounding area. The air in the caves with speleotherapy facilities should be monitored with respect to NTM, PM and anions to ensure a safe environment.

• Keywords
• asthma therapy, cave airflow, mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT), non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), risk groups of microorganisms, saprophytic environmental mycobacteria, underground therapy,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The nontuberculous mycobacteria are typically environmental organisms residing in soil and water. These microorganisms can cause a wide range of clinical diseases; pulmonary disease is most frequent, followed by lymphadenitis in children, skin and soft tissue disease, and rare extra pulmonary or disseminated infections. Mycobacterium avium complex is the second most common cause of pulmonary mycobacterioses after M. tuberculosis. This review covers the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of infection caused by the members of this complex and particularities for the treatment of different disease types and patient populations.

• MeSH
• Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection diagnosis   etiology   therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Environmental Microbiology MeSH
• Mycobacterium avium Complex classification   drug effects   genetics   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Disease Reservoirs microbiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria are increasingly described as infectious agents in immunocompromised patients. A 17-year-old male patient suffering from secondary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and treated with chemotherapeutic agents was admitted to hospital due to pleuropneumonia. Mycobacterium neoaurum was cultured repeatedly from his sputum and, Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (M. a. avium) was detected by IS901 qPCR from detached fragments of his intestinal mucosa. We attempted to determine the possible sources of infection by analysing environmental samples from the closed oncology unit and conventional unit in the hospital, and from the patient's home residence and places which he frequented. The environment of the patient harboured mycobacteria (41 isolates in total); however, M. neoaurum was not recovered. M. a. avium was detected by qPCR in the environmental samples from a small flock of hens kept by his neighbour. Although it was not confirmed by DNA fingerprinting methods, the M. a. avium infection could have been acquired through the eating of incompletely cooked eggs.

• MeSH
• Antitubercular Agents therapeutic use   MeSH
• Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous * MeSH
• Ciprofloxacin therapeutic use   MeSH
• Immunocompromised Host * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Environmental Microbiology MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Mycobacterium avium isolation & purification   MeSH
• Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin drug therapy   MeSH
• Nontuberculous Mycobacteria isolation & purification   MeSH
• Antineoplastic Agents therapeutic use   MeSH
• Sputum microbiology   MeSH
• Intestinal Mucosa microbiology   MeSH
• Tuberculosis * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Case Reports MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antitubercular Agents MeSH
• Ciprofloxacin MeSH
• Antineoplastic Agents MeSH

IS901 RFLP analysis of 36 Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (MAA) isolates from 15 pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and two goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) from four pheasant farms was performed. Using this method, six different IS901 RFLP types (E, F, G, M, Q, and V) were identified. The distribution of IS901 RFLP profiles was tightly linked to individual flocks. Matching IS901 RFLP profiles observed in the present study indicate MAA transmission between pheasants and goshawks in the same locality. In two flocks, different pheasants within a flock as well as in various organs of five individual pheasants were found to have two distinct IS901 RFLP profiles.

• Keywords
• MAC, avian tuberculosis, captive birds, genotyping, zoonosis,
• MeSH
• Galliformes * MeSH
• Liver microbiology   MeSH
• Bone Marrow microbiology   MeSH
• Mycobacterium avium genetics   MeSH
• Poultry Diseases microbiology   MeSH
• Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length * MeSH
• Polymorphism, Genetic * MeSH
• Tuberculosis, Avian microbiology   MeSH
• Spleen microbiology   MeSH
• Intestines microbiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

"Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis" often causes cervical lymphadenitis in children; its prompt and accurate identification enables adequate therapy, tracing, and prevention. The aims of this study were to determine the causative agent of lymphadenitis using culture, PCR, and triplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) methods with DNA directly isolated from tissue, as well as to identify possible sources of infection from the environment. We confirmed the diagnoses by detecting M. avium subsp. hominissuis using qPCR with DNA directly isolated from lymph node biopsy specimens of two patients. In order to trace the source of infection from the environment, a method of DNA isolation from soil and other environmental samples, such as dust, cobwebs, and compost, was developed. The triplex qPCR examination revealed the presence of M. avium subsp. hominissuis in a high proportion of the environmental samples (42.8% in the first patient's house and 47.6% in the second patient's house). Both patients were also exposed to M. avium subsp. avium, which was present due to the breeding of infected domestic hens. The high infectious dose of M. avium subsp. hominissuis or the increased susceptibility of humans to M. avium subsp. hominissuis compared to M. avium subsp. avium could be the reason why the children were infected with M. avium subsp. hominissuis.

• MeSH
• Bacteriological Techniques methods   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Neck microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Environmental Microbiology * MeSH
• Molecular Typing MeSH
• Mycobacterium avium classification   genetics   growth & development   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction methods   MeSH
• Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Tuberculosis, Lymph Node diagnosis   microbiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Case Reports MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH