Immunodiffusion analyses of Mycobacterium farcinogenes, Mycobacterium senegalense and some other mycobacteria

Thirty-one strains of Mycobacterium farcinogenes and M. senegalense were analysed together with twenty-five strains representing ten mycobacterial species. The comparative immunodiffusion technique was employed, using two reference systems, one for M. farcinogenes and the other for M. senegalense. The results indicate that the slow growing M. farcinogenes and the fast growing M. senegalense strains are closely related and can not be separated into two clearly distinct clusters. Both species were closely related to M. fortuitum, including strains designated 'M. peregrinum', but clearly different from other tested mycobacterial species. The serological data are consistent with the classification of M. farcinogenes and M. senegalense, and possibly M. fortuitum, in a single species. The results are discussed within the context of other taxonomic analyses of M. farcinogenes and M. senegalense.