First isolation of Mycobacterium canariasense from municipal water supplies in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
BACKGROUND
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are common bacteria in water and especially water supply distribution systems. Some species can cause infections, especially in immunocompromised patients and other risk groups. This study examined the frequency of occurrence of NTM in 135 household potable water samples collected from household water taps in Tenerife Island.


METHODS
Mycobacteria species were identified by polymerase chain reaction targeting the 16S rRNA and 16S-23S rRNA regions, and by double-reverse hybridization on a dipstick using colloidal gold-bound and membrane-bound probes (Speed-Oligo(®) Mycobacteria). Some species were identified by sequencing the gene that encodes the 16S rRNA region.


RESULTS
NTM were present in 47.4% of the samples. Mycobacterium fortuitum was the NTM isolated most frequently (70.3%), followed by Mycobacterium canariasense (6.3%) and Mycobacterium chelonae (6.3%). Other species were isolated at lower percentage frequencies.


CONCLUSIONS
We isolated and identified the species M. canariasense in water supplies for public consumption. This species has previously been reported only in hospital settings. The elevated presence of NTM in the water supply indicates that it may be a reservoir for infections caused by recently described species of mycobacteria.
University Hospital of Canary Islands, Tenerife, Ofra, s/n 38320, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain; Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife 38071, Canary Islands, Spain.
María
M
Lecuona
University Hospital of Canary Islands, Tenerife, Ofra, s/n 38320, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain; Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife 38071, Canary Islands, Spain.
Rossana
R
Abreu
Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife 38071, Canary Islands, Spain.
Cristobalina
C
Rodríguez-Álvarez
University Hospital of Canary Islands, Tenerife, Ofra, s/n 38320, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
Beatriz
B
Castro
University Hospital of Canary Islands, Tenerife, Ofra, s/n 38320, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
Silvia
S
Campos
University Hospital of Canary Islands, Tenerife, Ofra, s/n 38320, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
Miriam
M
Hernández-Porto
Vircell S.L. Molecular Diagnostic Department, The Technology Park of Health Sciences, Granada, Spain.
Pablo
P
Mendoza
Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife 38071, Canary Islands, Spain. Electronic address: angarias@ull.es.
Angeles
A
Arias
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D062312:Islands; D015335:Molecular Probes; D009161:Mycobacterium; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013030:Spain; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D060766:Drinking Water; D015335:Molecular Probes; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Aquatic environment; Mycobacterium canariasense; Nontuberculous mycobacteria; Potable water