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Hubelova D, Ulmann V, Mikuska P, Licbinsky R, Alexa L, Modra H, Gersl M, Babak V, Weston RT, Pavlik I. Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Prevalence in Aerosol and Spiders' Webs in Karst Caves: Low Risk for Speleotherapy. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9122573. [PMID: 34946174 PMCID: PMC8705795 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A total of 152 aerosol and spider web samples were collected: 96 spider’s webs in karst areas in 4 European countries (Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Slovakia), specifically from the surface environment (n = 44), photic zones of caves (n = 26), and inside (aphotic zones) of caves (n = 26), 56 Particulate Matter (PM) samples from the Sloupsko-Sosuvsky Cave System (speleotherapy facility; n = 21) and from aerosol collected from the nearby city of Brno (n = 35) in the Czech Republic. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) were isolated from 13 (13.5%) spider’s webs: 5 isolates of saprophytic NTM (Mycobacterium gordonae, M. kumamotonense, M. terrae, and M. terrae complex) and 6 isolates of potentially pathogenic NTM (M. avium ssp. hominissuis, M. fortuitum, M. intracellulare, M. peregrinum and M. triplex). NTM were not isolated from PM collected from cave with the speleotherapy facility although mycobacterial DNA was detected in 8 (14.3%) samples. Temperature (8.2 °C, range 8.0–8.4 °C) and relative humidity (94.7%, range 93.6–96.6%) of air in this cave were relatively constant. The average PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentration was 5.49 µg m−3 and 11.1 µg m−3. Analysed anions (i.e., F−, Cl−, NO2−, SO42−, PO43− and NO3−) originating largely from the burning of wood and coal for residential heating in nearby villages in the surrounding area. The air in the caves with speleotherapy facilities should be monitored with respect to NTM, PM and anions to ensure a safe environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Hubelova
- Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Tr. Generala Piky 7, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (D.H.); (H.M.)
| | - Vit Ulmann
- Public Health Institute Ostrava, Partyzanske Nam. 7, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic;
| | - Pavel Mikuska
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the CAS, Veveri 97, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (P.M.); (L.A.)
| | - Roman Licbinsky
- Transport Research Centre, Lisenska 33a, 636 00 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Lukas Alexa
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the CAS, Veveri 97, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (P.M.); (L.A.)
| | - Helena Modra
- Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Tr. Generala Piky 7, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (D.H.); (H.M.)
| | - Milan Gersl
- Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1/1665, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Vladimir Babak
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Ross Tim Weston
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia;
| | - Ivo Pavlik
- Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Tr. Generala Piky 7, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (D.H.); (H.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-773-491-836
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