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Characterization of Mycobacterium avium complex related mycobacteria isolated from an African environment and patients with AIDS
Author(s) -
Fonteyne P.A.,
Kunze Z. M.,
De Beenhouwer H.,
Dumonceau J. M.,
Dawson D. J.,
McFadden J. J.,
Portaels F.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.1997.d01-244.x
Subject(s) - mycobacterium avium complex , microbiology and biotechnology , mycobacterium , serotype , biology , mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection , strain (injury) , virology , bacteria , genetics , anatomy
Thirteen isolates from African AIDS patients and from the environment in Zaire were identified as members of the Mycobacterium avium complex by phenotypic tests. RFLP analysis showed that the isolates belong to a genetically homogeneous cluster. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis suggests a close relationship with the P‐49 strain (ATCC 35847), a reference strain for the serotype 7 of M. avium complex. This work shows the close relationship between certain M. avium complex strains responsible for disseminated infection in AIDS patients and M. avium complex strains isolated from the environment in Zaire. Further, our findings confirm that atypical mycobacteria may disseminate in AIDS patients in Africa and suggest that infection in these patients probably originates in their environment.