Characterization of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis of bovine, caprine, and ovine origin by gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of fatty acids in whole-cell extracts.

The cellular fatty acid composition of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis from bovine, ovine, and caprine origin (grown on Herrold's egg yolk medium) was determined by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and mass spectrometry and was compared with that of 19 other Mycobacterium spp. A species-specific fatty acid of M paratuberculosis was not demonstrable. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of cellular fatty acids was used to develop flow charts for the rapid identification of M paratuberculosis and other Mycobacterium spp. Two charts for distinguishing organisms were developed; one chart was based on GLC alone and the other based on GLC, growth rate, and chromogenicity. Seemingly, the GLC was reliable for detecting Mycobacterium spp rapidly.