title: Environmental mycobacteria from alpine and subalpine habitats.
abstract: Abstract Mycobacteria were isolated from a variety of materials such as soil, peat, humus, tufa, sphagnum, and wood, collected in alpine and subalpine habitats. Mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium malmoense, Mycobacterium szulgai, Mycobacterium gordonae, Mycobacterium terrae, Mycobacterium chelonae, and Mycobacterium fortuitum were recovered from 69 of 81 (85%) samples. All of the isolates were recovered on medium incubated at 20 and 30 degrees C. None were recovered if the medium was incubated at 37 degrees C. The isolation of mycobacteria confirms the presence of these opportunistic pathogens in alpine habitats.
authors.affiliation: AFSSA-Alfort, BP 67, 22 rue Pierre Curie, 94703 Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Francoise
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Thorel
authors.forename: Joseph O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Falkinham
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Moreau
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D003080:Cold Temperature; D017753:Ecosystem; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000382:microbiology; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019907:Mycobacterium fortuitum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D044003:Sphagnopsida / Q000382:microbiology; D014934:Wood / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D012987:Soil