This paper should be cited as: Livani, S. Ghaemi, EA.
A review on environmental mycobacteria in Iran
Livani, S. (MSc)1Ghaemi, EA. (PhD)2
1. MSc of Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
2. Professor of Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Abstract
Mycobacterium genus includes pathogenic and environmental speciese, the later called as non-tuberculous mycobaceria. In this review we analysed 43 published papers that considered the frequency of non-tuberculous mycobaceria in Iran during 1976-2013. The analyses showed there are 16 and 28 mycobacterial species isolated in water and soil samples, respectively. The most frequent mycobacterial species in water were M. fortuitum (25.4%) and M. chelonae (25.4%), and in soil it was M. fortuitum (19.7%). The most frequent species in clinical samples was M. fortuitum, too. The frequency of non-tuberculous mycobaceria in various clinical samples was different and in average it was isolated in 1.1% of tuberculosis suspected patients that refferd to the healthcare centers.
Key words:Environmental mycobacteria, Non-tuberculous mycobacteria, Iran, M. fortuitu
Corresponding Author: Ghaemi, EA.
Email: eghaemi@yahoo.com
Received: 17 Jun 2014
Revised: 13 Aug 2014
Accepted: 18 Aug 2014