Mycolicibacterium canariasense

Mycobacterium canariasense is a rapidly growing, non-pigmented mycobacterium first isolated from blood samples obtained from 17 patients with febrile syndrome. Etymology: canariasense; referring to the Latin adjective of the Spanish islands where all strains were isolated.

Description

Microscopy

• Weakly acid-fast rods.

Colony characteristics

• Visible growth appears in 2–3 days as smooth, moist, shiny, non-pigmented colonies on Löwenstein-Jensen medium. Growth later develops a more yellowish, smooth, moist and shiny appearance.

Physiology

• Growth occurs at 30 and 37C, but not at 22, 42 or 45C.
• Grows on MacConkey agar without crystal violet, but does not grow in the presence

of 5% NaCl.

• Positive for arylsulfatase activity (3 days) and Tween 80 hydrolysis.
• Produces a low level of heatstable catalase and is negative for reduction of nitrates.

Differential characteristics

• The 16S rRNA and hsp65 gene sequences of M. canariasense are unique.
• Most closely related to Mycobacterium diernhoferi and Mycobacterium mucogenicum.

Pathogenesis

• First isolated from blood samples obtained from 17 patients with febrile syndrome in the Canary Islands.

Type strain

• Strain 502329T =CIP 107998T =CCUG 47953T

References

• Jimenez M.,S., 2004. Mycobacterium canariasense sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol., 54, 1729–1734. PMID 15388736