Mycobacterium arupense, Mycobacterium heraklionense, and a Newly Proposed Species, “Mycobacterium virginiense” sp. nov., but Not Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum, as Species of the Mycobacterium terrae Complex Causing Tenosynovitis and Osteomyelitis

Abstract

Mycobacterium terrae complex (MTC) was first characterized in 1981 by the International Working Group in Mycobacterial Taxonomy (IWGMT). The initial MTC consisted of two nonchromogenic slowly growing species: M. terrae and Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum (1, 2). Phenotypic separation within the group was often difficult, and molecular methods were not available, making establishment of species pathogenicity uncertain (3).The complex is recognized as an environmental contaminant of sputum and a cause of tenosynovitis and osteomyelitis primarily of the fingers and wrist (3-35). Whether one or more members of the complex are true respiratory pathogens has not been established (1, 22).The first published case report of tenosynovitis caused by the MTC was by Hirata and Tomiyama in 1976 (4). There have been approximately 34 additional case reports published since then, identified using nonmolecular methods (3-25), with 14 cases identified using molecular methods (26)(27)(28)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36) (Tables 1 and 2). With the exception of four isolates of M. arupense, including the original description of M. arupense (28), details of the methods and/or explicitly stating a 100% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity to recognized species for the remaining cases with molecular identifications have been absent (Table 2).An excellent history and species update of the M. terrae complex based on multigene sequencing targets was published by Tortoli et al. (1). He noted that the presence of a two nucleotide insertion in helix 18 of the 16S rRNA gene (bp ϳ430 to 500; hypervariable region B or region V3) provided a consistent signature sequence for members of the MTC compared to other slowly growing mycobacteria (37,38). He also characterized several new species in the complex, including Mycobacterium heraklionense and Mycobacterium engbaekii (1).The greater availability of DNA sequencing (59) Citation Vasireddy R, Vasireddy S, Brown-Elliott BA, Wengenack NL, Eke UA, Benwill JL, Turenne C, Wallace RJ, Jr. 2016. Mycobacterium arupense, Mycobacterium heraklionense, and a newly proposed species, "Mycobacterium virginiense" sp. nov., but not Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum, as species of the Mycobacterium terrae complex causing tenosynovitis and osteomyelitis.

Diversity of actinobacteria in the marshes of Ezzemoul and Djendli in northeastern Algeria

“…The genus Mycobacterium is known for its pathogenicity in human beings and animals. It is mostly isolated from clinical specimens (Vasireddy et al 2016). Some are isolated from soil and water (Peeters et al 2016).…”

An Update on Mycobacterial Taxonomy, 2016–2017

“…Twenty-one of the isolates were identified as more recently described species within the M. terrae complex: M. arupense (n ϭ 10), M. heraklionense (n ϭ 10), and M. kumamotonense (n ϭ 1). The 5 remaining strains were found to have the same 2-nt insertion in helix 18 of the 16S rRNA gene as that seen in other members of the M. terrae complex but represented a previously undescribed species based on the following sequences: the complete 16S rRNA gene, a fragment of the hsp65 gene, and regions III and V of the rpoB gene (8,9). Three of the five strains shared 100% identity to each other by 16S rRNA sequencing but differed from other close matches within the M. terrae complex, namely, M. arupense (99.7%), M. nonchromogenicum (99.4%), and M. heraklionense (99.3%).…”

First Report of Tenosynovitis Caused by Mycobacterium virginiense in Korea

“…The isolate was susceptible to clarithromycin (minimal inhibi- TMP/SMX, and some aminoglycosides [1,6]. The M. virginiense isolate described in 2016 was susceptible to clarithromycin, ethambutol, rifabutin, and TMP/SMX, but was resistant to amikacin, rifampin, quinolone, doxycycline, and linezolid [2]. The pulmonary isolate from Korea was resistant to all antibiotics except clarithromycin [3].…”

“…

Dear Editor, Mycobacterium terrae complex (MTC) are slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) that cause tenosynovitis, septic arthritis, and osteomyelitis of the extremities [1]. Eleven new species of MTC have been described since 2006 [2]. Mycobacterium virginiense, a member of the MTC, was first described in 2016, and isolates from patients with tenosynovitis and osteomyelitis are acid-fast, slow-growing, and nonpigmented on Middle brook 7H10 agar [2].

…”

“…Eleven new species of MTC have been described since 2006 [2]. Mycobacterium virginiense, a member of the MTC, was first described in 2016, and isolates from patients with tenosynovitis and osteomyelitis are acid-fast, slow-growing, and nonpigmented on Middle brook 7H10 agar [2]. The first case of M. virginiense isolated from a human pulmonary specimen was reported in 2019 [3].…”