The possibility that the strains included within the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), but not belonging either to M. avium or to Mycobacterium intracellulare, may be members of undescribed taxa, has already been questioned by several taxonomists. A very homogeneous cluster of 12 strains characterized by identical nucleotide sequences both in the 16S rDNA and in the 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer was investigated. Similar strains, previously reported in the literature, had been assigned either to the species M. intracellulare on the basis of the 16S rDNA similarity or to the group of MAC intermediates. However, several phenotypical and epidemiological characteristics seem to distinguish these strains from all other MAC organisms. The unique mycolic acid pattern obtained by HPLC is striking as it is characterized by two clusters of peaks, instead of the three presented by all other MAC organisms. All of the strains have been isolated from humans and all but one came from the respiratory tract of elderly people. The clinical significance of these strains, ascertained for seven patients, seems to suggest an unusually high virulence. The characteristics of all the strains reported in the literature, genotypically identical to the ones described here, seem to confirm our data, without reports of isolations from animals or the environment or, among humans, from AIDS patients. Therefore, an elevation of the MAC variant was proposed and characterized here, with the name Mycobacterium chimaera sp. nov.; this increases the number of species included in the M. avium complex. The type strain is FI-01069T (=CIP 107892T=DSM 44623T).

MDRO colonization is common among residents in Italian LTCFs.

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This survey aimed to estimate the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies in people living in north west Tuscany (central Italy) and to investigate the adherence to antenatal screening programs and access to the Toxo-test as well. Sera from a large sample of individuals suspected to have acute infection or from pregnant women (10,352 subjects) aged between 1 day and over 70 years were analysed for both IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies using an immunoenzymatic method or a chemo-luminescent immunoassay. Overall, the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies was 21.4% (95% CI 20.62-22.20). A positive trend according to age was found, with low positivity observed in younger age groups. Among women of reproductive age the prevalence of IgG antibodies was 19.4% (95% CI 18.64-20.26). The overall IgM seroprevalence was 1.07% (95% CI 0.87-1.27). A low IgM prevalence was also observed in women of reproductive age (0.8%; 95% CI 0.65-1.03). Our study seems to indicate that primary prevention is widespread among women. However, an epidemiological surveillance system for toxoplasmosis should be implemented, to assess the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis and to determine the true burden of disease in adults.