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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Intradermal Inoculation of Mycobacterium avium in the Mouse Ear
Published on: July 3, 2025
Mycobacterium avium in a shower linked to pulmonary disease
Joseph O Falkinham1, Michael D Iseman, Petra de Haas
1Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0406, USA. jofiii@vt.edu
Abstract:
Mycobacterium avium was isolated from hot and cold water samples and from sediment (biofilm) collected from the showerhead in the home of a woman with M. avium pulmonary disease lacking known M. avium risk factors. IS1245/IS1311 DNA fingerprinting demonstrated that M. avium isolates from the hot and cold water and showerhead sediment demonstrated a clonal relationship with the patient's M. avium isolate. The data provide evidence that showers may serve as sources of infection by waterborne M. avium.
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