Identification of various serovar strains of Mycobacterium avium complex by using DNA probes specific for Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare.

Reference strains of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) belonging to serovars 1 to 28 were examined with DNA probes (Gen Probe Rapid Diagnostic System for the MAC; Gen Probe Inc., San Diego, Calif.) specific for either M. avium or Mycobacterium intracellulare. This study revealed that the earlier designations of the MAC serovars, in which serovars 1 to 3 and 4 to 28 were regarded as M. avium and M. intracellular, respectively, should be revised as follows. First M. avium includes serovars, 1 to 6, 8 to 11, and 21. Second, M. intracellulare includes serovars 7, 12 to 20, and 25. However, other serovars, such as serovars 22 to 24 and 26 to 28, involve M. intracellulare, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum, and MAC that are lacking in the reactivity with either DNA probe and that are too disordered to enable a conclusive description here, particularly concerning their taxonomic positions in the MAC.