Pathogenicity of Mycobacterium avium complex serovar 9 isolated from painted quail (Excalfactoria chinensis)

Avian tuberculosis accompanied with many tubercular lesions in the liver and spleen was found in a painted quail at a zoological garden in Japan. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) serovar 9 without insertion sequence of IS901 was isolated from the liver (1.3 x 10(8) CFU/g), oviduct (9.4 x 10(7) CFU/g), and intestine (1.5 x 10(5) CFU/g). The isolates were inoculated intravenously to chickens. The inoculated chickens showed clinical symptoms of avian tuberculosis. Birds are susceptible to MAC serovar 9 without IS901.