Cooperative Numerical Analysis of Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria: The Second Report

Abstract

The second cooperative numerical taxonomic analysis of Runyon group IV rapidly growing mycobacteria was facilitated by combining the results of 12 individual participants, each performing one or more of the selected tests by his or her own choice of method. The 177 characters were coded for analysis and the matching matrix was generated. Eight of nine clusters which were defined in this investigation were of previously named species. The recognized clusters were as follows: Mycobacterium flavescens, M. vaccae, M. chitae, M. thermoresistibile, and M. smegmatis. One large cluster, designated “M. parafortuitum complex” was noted which contained strains representative of taxa earlier identified as M. parafortuitum, M. diernhoferi, M. aurum, M. neoaurum, and a cluster of strains of unnamed species. It is suggested that segregation of species or subspecies within this complex not be attempted at this time.