DIFFERENTIAL IDENTIFICATION OF MYCOBACTERIA .1. TESTS ON CATALASE ACTIVITY

Abstract

The catalase activities of 530 cultures of mycobacteria were studied. All mycobacteria fell into 3 groups with respect to their catalase activity as determined on a simple semi-quantitative basis: those devoid of catalase; those producing less than 40 mm of bubbles in the test; and those producing more than 50 mm of bubbles. Heating the suspension to 68[degree]C for 20 min. prior to testing for catalase activity provided another character (positive enzymatic activity or negative activity) of value in numerical taxonomy. The study of catalase enzyme activity has added 3 additional characters of value in an Adansonian type of classification.