Investigating Feral Pigs as Animal Reservoirs for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Hawai’i

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dc.contributor.advisorHonda, Jennifer R.
dc.contributor.authorHendrick, Haley
dc.contributor.departmentMicrobiology
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-23T23:56:40Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.degreeM.S.
dc.embargo.liftdate2025-02-10
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10125/104594
dc.subjectMicrobiology
dc.subjectEcology
dc.subjectImmunology
dc.subjectHawaii
dc.subjectImmune response
dc.subjectM. porcinum
dc.subjectMacrophages
dc.subjectNontuberculous mycobacteria
dc.subjectPig
dc.titleInvestigating Feral Pigs as Animal Reservoirs for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Hawai’i
dc.typeThesis
dcterms.abstractNontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmentally-acquired opportunistic pathogens that cause recalcitrant pulmonary disease in susceptible individuals. The prevalence of NTM pulmonary disease is increasing globally, and the highest rates within the US are in Hawai'i. Mycobacterium porcinum (Latin, “porcus,” pig) is the fourth most frequently isolated NTM species from the Hawai’i environment and cause lymphadenitis in pigs and wound and pulmonary infections in humans. Because Hawai’i is home to large populations of invasive feral pigs, we hypothesized pigs are animal reservoirs for NTM. This hypothesis was tested with the following aims: (i) Determine the NTM species diversity among Hawai’i feral pigs, and (ii) Assess the growth rate of feral pig, environmental, and respiratory NTM, including environmental and respiratory M. porcinum isolates, and compare survival of these isolates in human macrophages. To accomplish project aims, we collected a matched set of nasal and fecal samples from 50 deceased Hawai’i feral pigs. Samples were microbiologically cultured and NTM were identified using partial rpoB gene sequencing. A total of 20 NTM species were identified, including Mycobacterium abscessus. Five pig-derived NTM isolates and six M. porcinum isolates were selected for further characterization including tabulating their colony morphology, capacity to form biofilms, and assessing their capacity to survive in human THP-1 macrophages. We found effective control of pig-derived NTM by THP-1 macrophages, but differential production of host cytokines in response to infection. M. porcinum isolates showed significant intraspecies variation with respect to growth rate and macrophage survival. This study confirms feral pigs in Hawai’i harbor pathogenic NTM species and may contribute to the prevalence of NTM in Hawai’i.
dcterms.extent85 pages
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.publisherUniversity of Hawai'i at Manoa
dcterms.rightsAll UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
dcterms.typeText
local.identifier.alturihttp://dissertations.umi.com/hawii:11635

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