Mycobacterial contamination of environment in pig farms in the Czech Republic between 1996 and 2002

摘要

The purpose of this study was to find source of mycobacterial infections in pig farms. A total of 2 411 environmental samples (bedding materials, water, biofilm from pipelines, peat, etc.) were examined by microscopy and culture. Isolates were identified by serotyping and PCR. Mycobacteria were isolated from 579 (24.0%) samples. 47.0% isolates were Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis isolates (IS901-, IS1245+, serotypes 4, 6, 8, 9), 2.2% isolates were M. a. avium (IS901+, IS1245+, serotype 2) and 50.8% belong to atypical mycobacteria comprising of fifteen species. The frequent isolates were found in peat samples (213/65.1%) in which 81.2% isolates comprised M. a. hominissuis. High amount of mycobacteria were isolated from biofilm (36.4%) and water (29.6%). Alike peat, non-pathogenic species were predominant. The third sources of mycobacteria were bedding materials, mostly sawdust (43.6%). Presence of mycobacteria in the animals’ environment leads to economic losses due to meat condemnation in abattoirs.