Epidemiology of infection by nontuberculous mycobacteria. Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum in acid, brown-water swamps of the southeastern United States and their association with environmental variables.
Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum (MAIS) organisms were isolated and identified from waters, soils, aerosols, and droplets ejected from water collected from four geographically separate aquatic environments (Okefenokee Swamp, GA; Dismal Swamp, VA; Claytor Lake, VA; and Cranberry Glades, WV) during several seasons. Recovery of MAIS was significantly higher from waters, soils, and aerosols collected from the two acid, brown-water swamps located in the southeastern coastal plain. High MAIS numbers correlated with warmer temperature, low pH, low dissolved oxygen, high soluble zinc, high humic acid, and high fulvic acid. This research, in relation to previous findings for the geographic distribution and physiologic ecology of MAIS, supports the conclusion that waters, soils, and aerosols of the acid, brown-water swamps of the southeastern United States coastal plain represent major environmental sources likely connected with the higher incidence of human infection in this region.
Kirschner
R A
RA
Department of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Balcksburg 24061.
Parker
B C
BC
Falkinham
J O
JO
D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015359:Mycobacterium scrofulaceum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013696:Temperature; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology
D012987:Soil; D014867:Water