Identification spp. in the Natural Water of Two Austrian Rivers.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria constitute a subgroup among the genus, a genus of Gram-positive bacteria that includes numerous pathogenic bacteria. In the present study, spp. were detected in natural water samples from two Austrian rivers (Kamp and Wulka) using three different primers and PCR procedures for the identification of the 16S rRNA and genes. Water samples were collected from the Kamp (45 samples) and Wulka (25 samples) in the summer and winter of 2018 and 2019. Molecular evidence showed a high prevalence of sp. in these rivers with prevalence rates estimated at approximately 94.3% across all rivers. The present study represents the first survey into the prevalence of sp. in natural water in Austria. Because nontuberculous mycobacteria have known pathogenic potential, including zoonotic, these findings may have implications for health management and public health.