Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense strain

Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense is a rod-shaped bacterium found in chloraminated water. This subspecies is known to possess flagella and has a single replicon. It primarily affects a range of hosts, including Homo sapiens (humans), various Metazoa (animals), Aves (birds), Phocidae (seals), Rodentia (rodents), and Panthera leo (lions). In terms of health effects, M. abscessus subsp. massiliense is associated with a wide array of infections. These include endocarditis, peritonitis, lung infections, and pulmonary diseases. It can lead to chronic infections and disseminated diseases, affecting not only the lungs but also causing cervical lymphadenitis and localized skin infections. Particularly concerning are its associations with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) and lower respiratory tract infections, which can manifest as chronic pulmonary infections and non-cavitary pneumonia. The bacterium also poses risks in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, leading to PD-associated peritonitis. Given its habitat in chloraminated water and its capacity to infect multiple hosts, M. abscessus subsp. massiliense highlights the potential for environmental reservoirs to contribute to human and zoonotic infections. This underscores the importance of monitoring water quality and understanding the ecological relationships that facilitate the transmission and persistence of this opportunistic pathogen.