Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
09:58
Environmental Screening of Aeromonas hydrophila, Mycobacterium spp., and Pseudocapillaria tomentosa in Zebrafish Systems
Published on: December 8, 2017
Mycobacteria in Finnish cooling tower waters
Eila Torvinen1, Sini Suomalainen, Lars Paulin
1Department of Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Summary
Cooling towers harbor potentially pathogenic mycobacteria, common bacteria that can cause infections. Their presence was widespread in cooling water systems, warranting further study on environmental transmission risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Public Health Microbiology
Background:
- Cooling towers facilitate heat removal but can aerosolize microbes.
- Legionellosis outbreaks are known, but other pathogenic bacteria in cooling towers are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence and diversity of mycobacteria in cooling tower water.
- To assess the relationship between mycobacteria, legionellae, and copper concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Sampling of twelve cooling water systems.
- Isolation and identification of mycobacteria species.
- Quantification of mycobacteria and legionellae.
Main Results:
- Mycobacteria were found in all twelve cooling systems (92% of samples).
- Isolated mycobacteria included potentially pathogenic species like M. chelonae/abscessus and M. fortuitum.
- Mycobacteria numbers correlated negatively with legionellae counts and copper concentration.
Conclusions:
- Cooling towers serve as environments for potentially pathogenic mycobacteria.
- Further research is needed to understand mycobacteria transmission from cooling towers to the environment.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Acid Mine Drainage
Mining activities that disturb sulfide-rich rocks, particularly those containing pyrite (FeS₂), initiate a cascade of geochemical and microbiological processes with serious environmental implications. When exposed to air and water, pyrite undergoes oxidation, releasing sulfate, ultimately forming sulfuric acid and mobilizing heavy metals into surrounding water systems. This phenomenon, known as acid mine drainage (AMD), results in low pH waters laden with toxic elements that threaten aquatic...
01:14Atypical Pneumonia
Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...