title: Mycobacterium marinum  infections in humans and tracing of its possible environmental sources.
abstract: The low frequency of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, nonspecific symptoms for individual mycobacteria, and the lack of specific identification methods could alter correct diagnosis. This study presents a combined microbiology and molecular-based approach for  Mycobacterium marinum  detection in four aquarists with cutaneous mycobacterial infection. Simultaneously, ecology screening for M. marinum presence in the aquarists' fish tanks was performed. A total of 38 mycobacterial isolates originated from four human patients (n = 20), aquarium animals (n = 8), and an aquarium environment (n = 10). Isolate identification was carried out using 16S rRNA sequence analysis. A microbiology-based approach, followed by 16S rRNA sequence analysis, was successfully used for detection of M. marinum in all four patients. Animal and environmental samples were simultaneously examined, and a total of seven mycobacterial species were isolated:  Mycobacterium chelonae ,  Mycobacterium fortuitum ,  Mycobacterium gordonae ,  Mycobacterium kansasii ,  Mycobacterium mantenii ,  Mycobacterium marinum , and  Mycobacterium peregrinum . The presence of M. marinum was proven in the aquarium environments of two patients. Although M. marinum is described as being present in water, it was detected only in fish.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute, O.I.E. Reference laboratories for Paratuberculosis and Avian Tuberculosis, Brno, Czech Republic. slany@vri.cz
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slany
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jezek
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fiserova
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bodnarova
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stork
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Havelkova
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kalat
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavlik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D019910:Mycobacterium marinum / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D017291:Clarithromycin