Identification and molecular characterization of mycobacteria isolated from animal sources in a developing country.

The essential role of animals in the transmission of infectious diseases has long been recognized. Apart from zoonosis due to Mycobacterium bovis in domestic cattle, acquired mycobacterial zoonosis from animals are vastly under-reported worldwide. This is partly the result of not recognizing that animals can be the source of zoonotic nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection.

Species diversity and molecular characterization of nontuberculous mycobacteria in hospital water system of a developing country, Iran.

Background: Hospital environment is of crucial importance in cross-transmission of opportunistic pathogens to the patients. Nontuberculous mycobacteria have the remarkable capability to withstand the adverse condition of hospital environments and pose a potential threat to the health of patients. The current study aimed to assess the frequency and diversity of mycobacteria in hospital water of a developing country using a combination of conventional and molecular methods.

Isolation and molecular identification of biodegrading Mycobacteria from water supplies of Iranian hospitals.

Background And Objectives: Some microorganisms, mainly members of two genera including Pseudomonas and Mycobacterium, were found to be capable of transforming and degrading of polluting agents. We herein report the isolation of a few mycobacteria with the ability to biodegrade organic and inorganic compounds from water supplies of Iranian hospitals.

Materials And Methods: The water samples were collected from hospital water supplies.

First report of isolation of Mycobacterium canariasense from hospital water supplies.

Mycobacterium canariasense was first isolated as a novel species in 2004 from clinical specimens in Spain. Since then there have only been a few additional reports from Spain, the USA, and Lebanon on the isolation of this rare species from clinical specimens. We herein present the first report on isolation of this organism from hospital water, which provides evidence for determining the natural habitat of this rare species.

Conventional and molecular investigation of Shigella isolates in relation to an outbreak in the area of Isfahan, Iran.

Background And Objective: Over 165 million cases of shigellosis occur in the world each year, mostly in developing countries. Outbreaks of shigellosis are associated with poor sanitation, natural calamities, contaminated food and crowded living conditions. In late summer 2006, during the final stage of an outbreak of shigellosis at a vast region of Isfahan province, Naein & Ardestan, our laboratory was assigned to investigate the outbreak in order to determine the causative agent.

First report of isolation of Mycobacterium novocastrense from water supplies.

We herein present the first documented report associated with the isolation of Mycobacterium novocastrense from environment. The identification and characterization of four unrelated isolates, one from the surface water and the other three from hospital water, were achieved by various conventional and molecular tests including a genus-specific PCR for Mycobacterium based on 65-kDa heat shock protein (hsp) gene and 16S rDNA sequencing. Our findings might shed further light on the natural habitat of this rare Mycobacterium.