Mycobacterium riyadhense Pulmonary Disease after Relocation from Saudi Arabia, Japan

TL;DR

A patient who moved from Saudi Arabia to Japan developed a rare type of lung disease caused by a bacteria likely acquired in Saudi Arabia.

Contribution

This is the first reported case of Mycobacterium riyadhense pulmonary disease in Japan, highlighting its potential for long-term persistence after relocation.

Findings

The patient's infection was traced to Mycobacterium riyadhense, a species previously reported only in Saudi Arabia.

Genomic analysis indicated the infection likely originated in Saudi Arabia and was not newly acquired in Japan.

The case suggests that M. riyadhense can cause pulmonary disease and persist after geographic relocation.

Abstract

We report a case of Mycobacterium riyadhense pulmonary disease in a patient who relocated from Saudi Arabia to Japan. Epidemiologic data and whole-genome analyses of the isolated strains suggested that the infection might have been acquired in Saudi Arabia and persisted, rather than a recent local acquisition in Japan.

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