These two species are difficult to differentiate and therefore they are also referred to collectively as Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) . Although it might more logically be termed the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex such nomenclature has not been adopted. They are both opportunistic pathogens that affect the immunocompromised, particularly HIV-positive individuals. They ca...

These two species are difficult to differentiate and therefore they are also referred to collectively as Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) . Although it might more logically be termed the Mycobacterium aviumintracellulare complex such nomenclature has not been adopted. They are both opportunistic pathogens that affect the immunocompromised, particularly HIV-positive individuals. They can...

Forty human clinical Mycobacterium avium-M. intracellulare complex strains isolated in Greece were characterized to the species level by PCR with three sets of primers specific for one or both species. M. avium predominated in both human immunodeficiency virus-positive and -negative patients, but the frequency of M. intracellulare isolation appeared to be higher in the latter.

2. Ashford DA, Whitney E, Raghunathan P, Cosivi O. Epidemiology of selected mycobacteria that infect humans and other animals. Rev Sci Tech. 2001;20:325–37. 3. Guerrero C, Bernasconi C, Burki D, Bodmer T, Telenti A. A novel insertion element from Mycobacterium avium, IS1245, is a specifi c target for analysis of strain relatedness. J Clin Microbiol. 1995;33:304–7. 4. Kunze ZM, Portaels F, McFad...

A medium for the selective isolation and enumeration of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare and M. scrofulaceum (MAIS) was developed, based upon the ability of these mycobacteria to utilize Tween 80 as sole carbon source and grow optimally at pH 5.5 on a simple mineral salts medium. Representative MAIS strains had higher efficiencies of plating on the Tween 80 medium compared with Middlebrook 7H...

A novel PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the hsp65 gene was developed. The restriction patterns for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) species were designed to be highly distinct, and the overall number of restriction patterns was designed to be limited. Four hundred specimens (17 reference strains and 383 clinical isolates) were tested, of ...

To evaluate the utility of Gen-Probe AccuProbes for the identification of mycobacteria directly from BACTEC TB 12B vials containing acid-fast bacilli, culture results for 11,375 clinical specimens other than blood received from 1 January 1992 to 30 September 1993 were reviewed retrospectively. During this period, a total of 359 of 11,375 BACTEC vials were positive for acid-fast bacilli and were...

We describe a case of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection in a silicone augmented breast of a female patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex. Explantation and treatment with appropriate antibiotics led to resolution of the breast infection.

A DNA sequence differing between sheep and cattle types of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis was identified and used to develop a PCR test. The test unequivocally distinguished all sheep types from cattle types and was negative for a wide range of other strains from the Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare complex. The test will be useful for epidemiological purposes, part...

Opportunistic infections by Mycobacterium avium intracellulare complex in HIV infected patients, though common in adults, are rarely seen in infants. We herewith report an interesting case of an eight month old infant presenting with isolated axillary lymphadenitis, later on diagnosed to be tubercular lymphadenitis by Mycobacterium avium intracellulare and finally proved to be seropositive for ...