Abstract
Identification of slow-growing mycobacteria has been done by the pattern of utilization of ten carbohydrates in the presence of glutamate-nitrogen. The utilization of the following carbohydrates was observed regarding the positive growth on a medium containing one of the carbohydrates as the positive utilization; glucose, fructose, sucrose, acetate, citrate, succinate, malate, pyruvate, malonate and fumarate. From these results, the following conclusions were obtained:
(1) Nonphotochromogens (Battey strains) were differentiated from M. avium by this method, and three major patterns, A, B and C, were recognized in the nonphotochromogens.
(2) Scotochromogens isolated from patients as multiple isolates in this country showed the same pattern or its derivatives. The pattern was similar to the type C of the nonphotochromogens.
(3) M. avium and M. terrae showed the same pattern and could de differentiated from other slow-growing mycobacteria by their pattern.
(4) M. marinum showed a pattern specific for the species. Two subtypes were recognized.
(5) M. thermoresistibile showed a pattern specific for the species.
(6) Patterns of the utilization of carbohydrates in the presence of glutamate-nitrogen are summarized in Table 10.
