title: Identification and characterization of non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from tuberculosis suspects in Southern-central China.
abstract: The incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)-related death has increased globally recently. To obtain information of the species and characterization of pathogens involved in NTM pulmonary infection in Southern-central China, we identified 160 non-tuberculous infection cases from 3995 acid-fast bacilli (AFB)-positive tuberculous suspects. We then randomly selected 101 non-tuberculous patients, isolated bacteria from their sputa and genotyped the pathogens using the 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer sequences. M. intracellulare (32.67%, 33/101), M. abscessus (32.67%, 33/101) and M. fortuitum (7.92%, 8/101) are identified in these isolates. Surprisingly, non-mycobacteria including Gordonia (8.91%, 9/101), Nocardia (5.94%, 6/101) and Tsukamurella (0.99%, 1/101) are also discovered, and the case of Tsukamurella pulmonis infection is first discovered in Southern-central China. Moreover, species of M. mucogenicum group, M. chubuense, M. kansasii, M. gastri, M. avium, M. porcinum and M. smegmatis are identified. In addition, nine immune compromised cases (8.91%, 9/101), including type two diabetes mellitus and HIV/AIDS are found to be infected with non-tuberculous bacteria. This study revealed the distribution and characteristics of non-tuberculous AFB pathogen infection occurred in Southern-central China, and suggested that physicians should be alert of the emerging of NTM and non-mycobacteria infection in AFB positive cases and take caution when choosing chemotherapy for tuberculosis-like pulmonary infections. Generally, this study may help with the development of new strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of mycobacterial infection.
authors.affiliation: School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Gao-zhan
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Shanghai public health clinical center, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yan-zheng
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shu-lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult