Identification of Mycobacteria by thin layer chromatographic analysis of mycolic acids and conventional biochemical method: four years of experience
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
93(6): 801-5, Nov.-Dec. 1998. ilus, tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-223885
RESUMO
Mycolic acids analysis by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) has been employed by several laboratories worldwide as a method for fast identification of mycobacteria. This method was introduced in Brazil by our laboratory in 1992 as a routine identification technique. Up to the present, 861 strains isolated were identified by mycolic acids TLC and by standard biochemical tests; 61 per cent out of these strains came as clinical samples, 4 per cent isolated from frogs and 35 per cent as environmental samples. Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains identified by classical methods were confirmed by their mycolic acids contents (I, III and IV). The method allowed earlier differentiation of M. avium complex - MAC (mycolic acids I, IV and VI) from M. simiae (acids I, II and IV), both with similar biochemical properties. The methods also permitted to distinguish M. fortuitum (acids I and V) from M. chelonae (acids I and II), and to detect mixed mycobacterial infections cases as M. tuberculosis with MAC and M. fortuitum with MAC. Concluding, four years experience shows that mycolic acids TLC is an easy, reliable, fast and inexpensive method, an important tool to put together conventional mycobacteria identification methods.
Full text:
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Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Mycobacterium
/
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
/
Mycolic Acids
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
1998
Type:
Article
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