Background. Two non-tuberculous mycobacterial strains, UM_3 and UM_11, were isolated from the trunk wash of captive elephants in Malaysia. As they appeared to be identical phenotypes, they were investigated further by conventional and whole genome sequence-based methods of strain differentiation. Methods. Multiphasic investigations on the isolates included species identification with hsp65 PCR-...

Atypical mycobacteria (209 strains) were examined for susceptibility to rifampin by the proportion method by using Middlebrook 7H-10 agar. All strains of Mycobacterium kansasii and tap-water scotochromogens were inhibited by 0.25 to 1 mug of the drug per ml. Seventy-six per cent of M. scrofulaceum and 61% of M. intracellulare strains were susceptible to 4 mug/ml or less; 5% of the former and 8%...

A tentative diagnosis of HIV–immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was made. She was treated with antiretroviral medications, IVIG, and subsequently with steroids for 4 weeks without improvement. Rituximab was deemed unsafe because of her immunosuppressed status. After 6 weeks of platelet unresponsiveness, a bone marrow examination was performed. The aspirate was dry. The core biopsy showed a h...

The dehydrogenase activity in mycobacteria is a promising field of research for the following reasons. Youmans et al. (1955, 1957) showed that small particles, containing dehydrogenases and possessing characteristics of mitochondria, stimulate in mice the production of a degree of immunity which is equal to the immunity produced by a 1-mg quantity of whole living cells of H37Ra. On the other ha...

Atypical mycobacteria, or more correctly nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) species, are a ubiquitous group of environmental organisms that have potential to cause pathological presentations, varying from skin and superficial infections to deeper infections with or without systemic dissemination. Many NTM species are well-recognised pathogens, whereas others are newly emerging and their pathoge...

The membership list of genus mycobacterium is ever expanding and it has grown to 95 in year 2003. While leprosy and tuberculosis are specific diseases caused by mycobacteria, other members are usually saprophytes but can be opportunistic and at times deadly pathogens. These other mycobacteria are referred to as atypical mycobacteria, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) or mycobacteria other than...

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are an increasingly recognized cause of chronic lung disease in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. Pre-existing lung disease, alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, malignancy, and smoking have been identified as important risk factors in nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, with only few cases of Nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in...

AIM to evaluate evidence concerning sources or mechanisms of infection transmission of atypical mycobacteria associated with acupuncture, and the species causing infections. METHOD research was performed in December 2011 in the databases of LILACS, MEDLINE, EMBASE, OvidSP and the Cochrane Library, without restrictions regarding publication date, study type or language. RESULTS of the 16 pub...

We describe two brothers of consanguineous Pakistani parents who lived in Norway and had disseminated infections due to nontuberculous mycobacteria. The first boy developed clinical signs of disseminated BCG infection after vaccination. He was successfully treated with antimycobacterial agents. Two and one-half years later, he developed disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection and die...

Atypical mycobacteria are pathogens that uncommonly infect the hand. These organisms capable of causing extensive bone damage in Mycobacterium kansasii is a slow growing non-tuberculous Mycobacterium. It second most common mainly affects hand and joints. Immunosuppressed patients more likely to develop infection. Because extrapulmonary involvement M. rare, skin soft tissue infections infrequent...