title: Isolation of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria from the Environment of Ghanian Communities Where Buruli Ulcer Is Endemic.
abstract: This study aimed to isolate nontuberculous mycobacterial species from environmental samples obtained from some selected communities in Ghana. To optimize decontamination, spiked environmental samples were used to evaluate four decontamination solutions and supplemented media, after which the best decontamination solution and media were used for the actual analysis. The isolates obtained were identified on the basis of specific genetic sequences, including heat shock protein 65, IS2404, IS2606, rpoB, and the ketoreductase gene, as needed. Among the methods evaluated, decontamination with 1 M NaOH followed by 5% oxalic acid gave the highest rate of recovery of mycobacteria (50.0%) and the lowest rate of contamination (15.6%). The cultivation medium that supported the highest rate of recovery of mycobacteria was polymyxin B-amphotericin B-nalidixic acid-trimethoprim-azlocillin-supplemented medium (34.4%), followed by isoniazid-supplemented medium (28.1%). Among the 139 samples cultivated in the main analysis, 58 (41.7%) yielded mycobacterial growth, 70 (50.4%) had no growth, and 11 (7.9%) had all inoculated tubes contaminated. A total of 25 different mycobacterial species were identified. Fifteen species (60%) were slowly growing (e.g., Mycobacterium ulcerans, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium mantenii, and Mycobacterium malmoense), and 10 (40%) were rapidly growing (e.g., Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium fortuitum, and Mycobacterium abscessus). The occurrence of mycobacterial species in the various environmental samples analyzed was as follows: soil, 16 species (43.2%); vegetation, 14 species (38.0%); water, 3 species (8.0%); moss, 2 species (5.4%); snail, 1 species (2.7%); fungi, 1 species (2.7%). This study is the first to report on the isolation of M. ulcerans and other medically relevant nontuberculous mycobacteria from different environmental sources in Ghana.
  
  
  
  Diseases caused by mycobacterial species other than those that cause tuberculosis and leprosy are increasing. Control is difficult because the current understanding of how the organisms are spread and where they live in the environment is limited, although this information is needed to design preventive measures. Growing these organisms from the environment is also difficult, because the culture medium becomes overgrown with other bacteria that also live in the environment, such as in soil and water. We aimed to improve the methods for growing these organisms from environmental sources, such as soil and water samples, for better understanding of important mycobacterial ecology.
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.|Institute of Environmental and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel Yaw
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Aboagye
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Emelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Danso
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.|Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kobina Assan
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ampah
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Zuliehatu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nakobu
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Prince
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asare
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Isaac Darko
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Otchere
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Röltgen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Dzidzo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yirenya-Tawiah
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana dyeboah-manu@noguchi.ug.edu.gh.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1663-6287
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yeboah-Manu
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D054312:Buruli Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements