Characterisation of a new isolate of Mycobacterium shimoidei from Finland

This report describes the first isolation of Mycobacterium shimoidei in Fin land from a sputum specimen obtained from an elderly female patient. M. shi moidei, a potential lung pathogen, is difficult to identify by routine meth ods and only a few cases have been reported. The present study demonstrated that M. shimoidei has a characteristic pattern for fatty acids and alcohol s in gas liquid chromatography, This chromatogram and the pattern of mycoli c acids on thin-layer chromatography allow it to be distinguished routinely . The unique sequence of the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rDNA spacer regi on allows identification by molecular methods.