Characterization of non-tuberculous mycobacterium from humans and water in an Agropastoral area in Zambia

Abstract

BackgroundThe non-tuberculous mycobacteria include those mycobacterium species that are not members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae. In Zambia, Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria are gaining recognition as pathogens of public health significance. However, there is scanty information on the isolation and speciation of these organisms for better patient management, consequently reducing the burden of these infections. Given the above information, the thrust of this study was to isolate and characterize NTM from humans and water in Namwala district of Zambia.MethodThis was a cross-sectional study were 153 individuals with suspected TB were sampled from four health facilities in Namwala district, sputum samples were also collected. Additionally, 149 water samples were collected from different water drinking sources such as Tap water, Borehole water, rivers, wells and streams. Standard TB culture methods were employed to isolate Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria and later 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer region Sequencing was employed to characterize NTM.ResultsSeven (7, 4.6%) NTM species were identified from humans with M. arupense (3, 42.9%) being the most common organism, while twenty three (23, 15.4%) NTM were identified from water with the common species being Mycobacterium gordonae (5, 21.7%). Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium fortuitum were both identified from human and water samples.ConclusionThis study has shown the isolation of NTM species from humans and water. The isolation of NTM from drinking water sources could signify a public health risk to humans.

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Humans, Animals, and Water in Zambia: A Systematic Review

“…This suggests that drinking water can be the source of human infection for M. lentiflavum. Therefore prevention of public health risk of NTM in Zambia should take into account water treatment before it is accessed for domestic consumption (42). This is because in many parts of Zambia there is enough degree of overlap and interaction between humans, wildlife and the environment, increasing the potential for animal and human based contamination of natural water sources and transmission of NTM to livestock.…”

Global Environmental Nontuberculous Mycobacteria and Their Contemporaneous Man-Made and Natural Niches

“…Information regarding the causative agents of NTM-LD in Africa are limited and is likely due to the overwhelming burden of tuberculosis in the regions. However, M. abscessus, M. avium, M. fortuitum , and M. nebraskense are recognized as the most frequently isolated NTM species from clinical samples in Zambia ( Monde et al, 2018 ). M. gordonae has been recently found to be highly prevalent in water reservoirs like borehole wells, rivers dams, and tap water ( Monde et al, 2018 ).…”

Isolation, identification and associated risk factors of non‐tuberculous mycobacteria infection in humans and dromedary camels in Samburu County, Kenya

“…This study describes for the first time the isolation and identification of NTM species of public health importance from both camel milk and sputum samples of associated household members presumed to have TB in Kenya. NTM have previously been isolated elsewhere in humans and from samples obtained from various species of livestock, livestock products and the environment (Agdestein, Olsen, Jorgensen, Djonne, & Johansen, 2014; Gumi, Schelling, Berg, et al, 2012; Gumi, Schelling, Firdessa, et al, 2012; Monde et al., 2018; Muwonge et al, 2012; Kankya et al., 2011; Katale et al., 2014). The most predominant species identified in our study were grouped into two main clades: TB‐Simiae and Fortuitum‐Vaccae clades.…”

“…Until recently, the focus has been on identifying known zoonotic mycobacteria such as M. bovis ; however, not much is known about the epidemiology and implications of the other potentially zoonotic mycobacteria including M. avium intracellulare complex and other NTM (Gcebe & Hlokwe, 2017). This is despite the growing evidence base of the role of NTM as true human pathogens in NTM pulmonary disease, their resistance to first‐ and second‐line anti‐TB drugs and the implications for the management of human TB cases (Cheng et al., 2017; Fedrizzi et al., 2017; Hoza et al., 2016; Kankya et al., 2011; Monde, Munyeme, Muwonge, Muma, & Malama, 2018; Muwonge et al, 2011; Nishiuchi et al., 2017; Wang et al., 2014). In addition to their growing pathogenic significance and drug resistance, environmental NTM compromise accurate diagnosis of TB in both humans and livestock, through the cross‐reactivity and the reduction in sensitivity of common diagnostic tests (Gcebe & Hlokwe, 2017; Jenkins et al., 2018).…”