GENERALIZED ATYPICAL MYCOBACTERIOSIS IN A PATIENT WITH NON-HIV-ASSOCIATED IMMUNODEFICIENCY AND ISOLATION OF A NEW MYCOBACTERIUM SPECIES

We present a patient, aged 30, suffering from generalised atypical myc obacteriosis due to familial, cellular immunodeficiency. Laboratory in vestigations revealed marked leucopenia, massively reduced monocytes, a relative and absolute decrease in CD4 and B-lymphocytes as well as a significant increase in CD8 cells. Neutrophil functions were largely normal. The lymphocyte transformation test revealed a significantly de creased mitogen response. Interleukines in serum such as IL-8, IL-6 an d TNF-alpha were raised. An adenosine deaminase deficiency was exclude d. A new Mycobacterium species was cultured from wound secretions, blo od, sputum, urine and faeces (patient isolate T 849). The sequence of the 16S rDNA-region, bases 90-290 (including helix 10) differed by 5% compared to Mycobacterium gastri/kansasii and by 3% compared to M. sim iae. The sequence of the helix 18 (bases 430-498) in the 16S rDNA show ed a greater similarity with M. gastri/kansasii compared to M. simiae. Biochemical reactions and 16S rDNA-analysis showed this Mycobacterium to be a new species. We suggest ''Mycobacterium magdeburgensis'' as a name for this newly isolated species.