Detection of wide genetic diversity and several novel strains among non-avium nontuberculous mycobacteria isolated from farmed and wild animals in Hungary.

AIMS: Besides Mycobacterium avium numerous nontuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) species exist, which pose constant health risk to both humans and animals. The aim of our study was to identify non-avium NTM isolates from veterinary origin in Hungary, and to detect the occurrence of rifampicin resistance among them. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-five strains isolated between 2006 and 2013 from domestic and wild animals and veterinary important samples were identified on the basis of partial DNA sequences of different structural or coding genes, besides commercial kits and multiplex PCR. From 14 different sources, 28 NTM strains and 8 hitherto unidentified strain types were detected. Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum was the most frequently occurring strain (25·78%). Besides, new hosts and mycobacteria-related pathological symptoms were detected. Noticeable rifampicin resistance (42·76%) was found among 159 strains from six different host species. Furthermore, we described the problematics of strain-misidentifications using commercial kits. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified the most common non-avium NTM strains in Hungary, and provided account of their occurrence, host range, and pathogenicity. The detected high rifampicin resistance among the strains isolated mainly from fallow and red deer clearly shows that more attention should be paid to the examination of wild animals especially to those ones which may have contact or shared territory with farmed animals. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In domestic animal husbandry the maintenance of tuberculosis free status is of primary importance. As immunological cross-reactions due to NTM hamper the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis, the precise identification of NTM strains would be essential in the veterinary diagnostics, especially for potentially zoonotic strains. This is the first study investigating the strain diversity of non-avium NTM in Hungary.

Molecular analysis and MIRU-VNTR typing of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis strains from various sources.

AIMS: Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of Johne's disease. Genotypic discrimination of MAP isolates is pivotal to epidemiological studies requisite for revealing infection sources and disease transmission. This study was undertaken to determine the genetic diversity of MAP strains from diverse sources. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five hundred and sixty-nine MAP isolates were collected during an 8-year period from nine animal species, originating from seven European countries, including the whole geographic region of Hungary. Isolates were classified into cattle type and sheep type, and 515 strains were included in mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable-number tandem repeat analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The same genotype was found in different host species cohabiting on the same property, demonstrating interspecies transmission. Detecting identical patterns in numerous related animals underlines the importance of vertical transmission. The revealed 15 genotypes expose relatively low strain diversity and indicate the need of an improved typing system that provides higher resolution in the case of this subspecies. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our results demonstrate the circulation and transmission of different MAP strain types among individuals, herds and even wildlife reservoirs in Hungary and other European countries; correlation between production type or breed and MAP genotype is hypothesized.

Characterisation of Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from foals and from immunocompromised human patients.

The cultural, morphological, biochemical, serological characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility of 25 Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from lungs and lung abscesses of pneumonic foals and 5 R. equi strains isolated from immuno-compromised human patients were examined. All R. equi strains showed common cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics both with conventional tests and on the basis of their enzyme profile. The R. equi strains examined were resistant to penicillins with the exception of ampicillin, to sulphamethazine and several strains also to sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim. All strains were susceptible to erythromycin and rifampicin. The strains isolated from humans showed somewhat higher rate of antibiotic resistance to penicillin, cefotaxime, kanamycin, streptomycin, lincomycin, and oxytetracycline. The overwhelming majority (96%) of the equine isolates belonged to serotype 1 in Prescott's serotyping system, while the human isolates could not be serotyped.