DIFFERENTIATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM-SENEGALENSE FROM RELATED NON-CHROMOGENIC MYCOBACTERIA USING PYROLYSIS MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Twenty-six representative strains of Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacte rium fortuitum, Mycobacterium peregrinum and Mycobacterium senegalense were compared by Curie point pyrolysis mass spectrometry. The M. chel onae and M. senegalense strains formed dis tinct groups. A third, rela tively diffuse group, contained the M. fortuitum and M. peregrimon str ains. These results, together with those from corresponding analyses, suggest that pyrolysis mass spectrometry provides a rapid and reliable way of distinguishing between members of closely related mycobacteria l species which are difficult to differentiate using conventional taxo nomic procedures.