ABSTRACT
This research compared the numbers and types of different Mycobacterium species in soil samples taken from 2 areas of Golestan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, 1 with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and 1 with a low prevalence. From 220 samples, 91 grew positive cultures (41.4%) and 161 different strains were diagnosed. The most common species isolated were Mycobacterium fortuitum, M. flavescens and M. chelonae. The frequencies of environmental Mycobacterium in the low-prevalence area were much higher than in the high-prevalence area, perhaps due to different environmental fac-
Subject(s)
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria/isolation & purification , Soil Microbiology , Tuberculosis/epidemiology , BCG Vaccine/immunology , Bacterial Typing Techniques , Endemic Diseases/statistics & numerical data , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Epidemiological Monitoring , Humans , Incidence , Iran/epidemiology , Mycobacterium Infections/complications , Mycobacterium Infections/epidemiology , Mycobacterium Infections/microbiology , Mycobacterium chelonae/isolation & purification , Mycobacterium fortuitum/isolation & purification , Mycobacterium kansasii/isolation & purification , Mycobacterium marinum/isolation & purification , Nontuberculous Mycobacteria/immunology , Nontuberculous Mycobacteria/pathogenicity , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Tuberculosis/complications , Tuberculosis/prevention & control , Vaccination/standardsABSTRACT
This research compared the numbers and types of different Mycobacterium species in soil samples taken from 2 areas of Golestan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, 1 with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and 1 with a low prevalence. From 220 samples, 91 grew positive cultures [41.4%] and 161 different strains were diagnosed. The most common species isolated were Mycobacterium fortuitum, M. flavescens and M. chelonae. The frequencies of environmental Mycobacterium in the low-prevalence area were much higher than in the high-prevalence area, perhaps due to different environmental factors
Subject(s)
Environmental Microbiology , Soil Microbiology , Prevalence , MycobacteriumABSTRACT
A combination of chemotherapy and mollusciciding has been used in Khuzestan, south-west Iran, since 1966, to try to control urinary schistosomiasis. The total amount of molluscicide used each year varied between 702 and 3505 kg and between 287 and 1320 infected persons were detected and treated annually. The prevalence of infection has gradually declined from 8.3% in 1970 to 0.7% in 1979. Similarly, the incidence of infection among schoolchildren decreased from 3.5% in 1970 to 0.7% in 1979. The proportion of Bulinus-infested habitats also decreased from 10% in 1971 to 2.4% in 1979.
