A significant knowledge gap exists concerning the geographical distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolation worldwide.To provide a snapshot of NTM species distribution, global partners in the NTM-Network European Trials Group (NET) framework (www.ntm-net.org), a branch of the Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group (TB-NET), provided identification results of the total number of patients in 2008 in whom NTM were isolated from pulmonary samples. From these data, we visualised the relative distribution of the different NTM found per continent and per country.We received species identification data for 20 182 patients, from 62 laboratories in 30 countries across six continents. 91 different NTM species were isolated. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) bacteria predominated in most countries, followed by M. gordonae and M. xenopi. Important differences in geographical distribution of MAC species as well as M. xenopi, M. kansasii and rapid-growing mycobacteria were observed.This snapshot demonstrates that the species distribution among NTM isolates from pulmonary specimens in the year 2008 differed by continent and differed by country within these continents. These differences in species distribution may partly determine the frequency and manifestations of pulmonary NTM disease in each geographical location. @ERSpublications Species distribution among nontuberculous mycobacteria isolates from pulmonary specimens is geographically diverse

Two new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), one for the measurement of immunoglobulin G (IgG) (Captia Syphilis-G) and one for the measurement of IgM (Captia Syphilis-M), were evaluated for detecting antibodies to Treponema pallidum. Serum samples from 169 patients, 96 with various stages of untreated syphilis, 63 with treated syphilis, and 10 who were noninfected, were investigated. Ail sera were also examined by traditional treponemal and cardiolipin tests and by the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test for 19S(IgM). The overall sensitivity of Captia Syphilis-G was 98.3%. The IgG ELISA was very sensitive (100%) in all stages of untreated syphilis, except in primary syphilis (82%). In ail diagnostic groups of syphilis, the reactivity of Captia Syphilis-M was similar to that of the 19S(IgM) FTA-ABS test, except in reinfections, in which the IgM capture ELISA was less sensitive. False-positive IgM capture ELISA results were not found in the 10 neonates born to mothers adequately treated for syphilis. However, of six serum samples containing rheumatoid factor, two were reactive in the Captia Syphilis-M test but not in the

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From October 1977 to May 1980, 243 stools collected in sedentary and semi-nomadic populations of the Ahaggar (Algerian Sahara) were examined using immunoelectronmicroscopy and tissue culture inoculation. Immunoelectronmicroscopy revealed the presence of rotaviruses in 8, coronaviruses in 26, adenoviruses in 5 and small round viruses in 4. Enteroviruses were isolated in tissue culture from 24 stools. Rotaviruses were present in the Ahaggar but were associated with little acute enteric disease. The high frequency of coronaviruses both in gastroenteritis patients and in patients without disease was surprising. The prevalence of enteroviruses in this hyperarid zone was similar to or higher than that found in noticeably more human countries. Further systematic bacterial, viral and parasitic examinations are required to clarify the role of the above viruses in the aetiology of gastroenteritis in this region.

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