[Atypical mycobacteria isolated from the water of the Simeto River at Catania].

From 25 samples of water taken in the course of 1975 from different points of the river Simeto have been isolated 11 strains of atypical mycobacteria, classifiable in Runyon's II, III and IV group. M. fortuitum has been most frequently found (6 strains), while M. gordonae, M. smegmatis, M. chelonei, M. engbaekii have been isolated only once. An unclassifiable strain belonging to Runyon's 3rd group has also been isolated. The importance of research of atypical mycobacteria in the environment from an epidemiological and epizootological point of view has been discussed.