Abstract
Many reports have recently been made upon the so-called atypical mycobacteria. But some ofthem are considered to be those which are difficult to differentiate from the non-pathogenic acidfast becteria except for the pathogenicity on the human. It is probable that, undera certain condition, the non-pathogenic acidfast bacteria temporarily produce virulence.
In this paper, the author tries to clarify this problem. M. phlei and non-chromogenic strain isolated from sputum as a saprophytic strain, were mixed in liquid paraffin on the living condition. Then this mixture was injected intrapulmonally and subcutaneously to guinea pigs to be compared with the suspension in Aq. dest.
The results were as follows:
Severe lesions similar to tuberculous ones were frequently observed in the lung and other organs macro-and microscopically. Histologically, they were epitheloid cell tubercles, containing many round cells and having the nature of miliary abscess.
In the case M. phlei coated with liquid paraffin was inoculated subcutaneously, the bacilli were detected from the organs for a longer time than in the case of water-suspended bacilli.
Further results of the experiment will be reported in the next paper.
