Rapid detection of Mycobacterium bovis on its lipid profile by thin layer chromatography

Sixteen Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) strains isolated from bovine tissues and one standard reference strain of M. bovis AN5 alongwith other species of mycobacteria for comparison were investigated for the presence of phenol ic glycolipid (PGL) and phthiocerol dimycocerosate (PDIM) for rapid identif ication of M. bovis by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The study indicated presence of PGL with an Rf value of 0.75 in chloroform-methanol solvent in all 17 M. bovis strains. The dimycocerostate A corresponding to spot A was the major constituent among all the three spots in M. bovis strains. TLC a ppeared to be a promising alternative to conventional biochemical methods f or identification of M. bovis taking into consideration bath PGL and PDIM l ipids. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.