Faster identification of mycobacteria using gas liquid and thin layer chromatography

Gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis of cell wall content was used for identification of mycobacteria isolated in primary cultures. GLC permitted determination of the fatty acid and alcohol profiles of Mycobacterium simiae and Mycobacterium marinum and detection of a peak in Mycobacterium ulcerans formerly described for Mycobacterium malmoense. Using the data obtained to fill some of the gaps in the dichotomic trees of Tisdall et al. and Jantzen et al., GLC analysis allowed full identification of 8 of 22 mycobacterial species after 24 hours. The other 14 species could be divided into four groups on the basis of similar findings on GLC. TLC was used for full identification of three species. The identification results of conventional methods were concordant with those of GLC and TLC in 161 of 169 strains (93%) representing 21 different species. Using primarily chromatography for analysis of cell wall content, and in the case of some species complementary biochemical tests, the identification procedure could be shortened to a maximum of three days after primary culture.