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Occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in a chloraminated drinking water distribution system
Mini Dissertation (MsC (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2019.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613479997800448 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Venter, Stephanus N. |
| author_browse | Venter, Stephanus N. |
| author_facet | Venter, Stephanus N. |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Mini Dissertation (MsC (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2019. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/110470 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:36:48.836Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/110470 Occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in a chloraminated drinking water distribution system Venter, Stephanus N. tla.mlambo@gmail.com Mlambo, Tlangelani UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Non-tuberculous mycobacteria Drinking Water (DS) Culture and non-culture technique Mini Dissertation (MsC (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2019. Nontuberculous mycobacteria are environmental mycobacteria commonly found in natural environments as well as human-engineered environments. The diversity of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) within drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) has not been fully explored, especially in South Africa. Furthermore, several species of NTM are known to be important opportunistic human pathogens causing nosocomial infection and occupational illness in immunocompromised patients. The objective of this study was to detect and identify nontuberculous mycobacteria in drinking water distribution system using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. Mycobacteria were previously identified by phenotypic traits such as colony morphology, growth rates, pigment production and biochemical profile but these methods have proved to be laborious and results are sometimes unreliable as different species may have indistinguishable morphological and biochemical profiles. With the development of molecular approaches for identification it has become easier to determine the specific identity and prevalence on mycobacterial isolates. In this study, NTM were initially detected and identified from different points within a large drinking water distribution system by culture-dependent techniques which included PCR, sequencing of specific gene regions and phylogenetic analyses. However, cultures can take a week to several months to grow since mycobacteria are slow growing bacteria and isolation can also be hindered by overgrowth of other bacteria as currently used media are not selective and decontamination techniques could eliminate some of the mycobacteria. In addition to the first culture-based approach, NTM were also detected using a culture-independent approach consisting of direct extraction of DNA from the water samples, followed by PCR. Mycobacteria were isolated from 125 samples. The most frequently isolated species based on phylogenetic analysis of the sequence data were Mycobacterium mucogenicum (46%) and M. fluoranthenivorans (2%). A total of 33/59 (56%) samples were positive for Mycobacterium using PCR. Although the results could not be further verified, it is clear from the percentage of positive samples that they are present and prevalent within DWDS. Furthermore, these results indicate a need for development and/or improvement of extraction methods which will yield higher DNA levels with good amplifiable quality to be used for culture-independent techniques. Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM) MsC (Microbiology) Unrestricted Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences SDG-03: Good health and well-being SDG-06: Clean water and sanitation 2026-06-08T09:44:02Z 2026-06-08T09:44:02Z 2019-04 2018-12 Mini Dissertation * A2019 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/110470 N/A en © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Non-tuberculous mycobacteria Drinking Water (DS) Culture and non-culture technique Occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in a chloraminated drinking water distribution system |
| title | Occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in a chloraminated
drinking water distribution system |
| title_full | Occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in a chloraminated
drinking water distribution system |
| title_fullStr | Occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in a chloraminated
drinking water distribution system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in a chloraminated
drinking water distribution system |
| title_short | Occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in a chloraminated
drinking water distribution system |
| title_sort | occurrence of non tuberculous mycobacteria in a chloraminated drinking water distribution system |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Non-tuberculous mycobacteria Drinking Water (DS) Culture and non-culture technique |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/110470 |