Distribution of Atypical Mycobacteria in Environments and Wild Birds

Abstract

Atypical mycobacteria were isolated from the 10 of 36 sea water (19 strains), 20 of 36 sea sands (22 strains), 4 of 12 brackish water (13 stains), 26 of 60 river water (53 strains) and 6 of 12 waste water (10 stains) samples. The organisms were also isolated from faeces from 3 of 240 station pigeons (4 strains), 5 of 240 shrine pigeons (5 strains), 8 of 240 abattoir pigeons (910 strains) and 18 of 240 abattoir crows (33 strains). 18 Mycobacterium avium intracellular complex (MAIC) strains were isolated from the 2 waste water, 1 sea water, 2 abattoir pigeon and 8 crow samples. The isolates were serovar 8 (4 strains), serovar 4 (3), serovar 6 (2), serovar 12 (1),, and untyped (8). The insertion sequence (IS 901) was found in only one strain of MAIC (serovar 8) from a crow. M. kansasii was isolated from 1 waste water, 1 abattoir pigeon and 4 crow samples.