Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Current Methods for Rapid Detection and Identification of Mycobacteria

  • Chapter
Book cover Rapid Methods and Automation in Microbiology and Immunology

  • 197 Accesses

Abstract

The character of mycobacterial diseases has remained basically unchanged throughout the years, but our perceptions of them have begun to change significantly, particularly in the past decade. Two diseases, tuberculosis and leprosy, are the most important because they create the greatest problems in public health and result in prolonged suffering, and in some cases social stigma and ostracism. The etiologic agents, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. Leprae, respectively, are aptly named to identify the associated diseases, but the species differ in many respects, particularly in the ability to grow on artificial laboratory media. Therefore, laboratory diagnostic procedures have not been similar for the two diseases, but this may be changing. Laboratory studies have focused on development of rapid methods for diagnosis and determination of drug susceptibility, but there are many areas of the world where diagnostic procedures are still dependent on visualization of acid-fast bacilli, if a microscope is available. In other areas of the world, patterns of mycobacterial disease are changing markedly under the impact of immunosuppression following chemotherapy for various conditions or infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), even before the development of frank signs of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • American Thoracic Society (1981) Diagnostic standards and classification of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases, 14th edn. Am Rev Respir Dis 123:343–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks JB, Daneshvar MI, Fast DM, Good RC (1987) Selective procedures for detecting femtomole quantities of tuberculostearic acid in serum and cerebrospinal fluid by frequency-pulsed electron-capture gas-liquid chromatography. J Clin Microbiol 25: 1210–1206

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks JB, Daneshvar MI, Haberberger RL, Mikhail IA (1990) Rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis by frequency-pulsed electron-capture gas-liquid chromatography detection of carboxylic acids in cerebrospinal fluid. J Clin Microbiol 28: 989–997

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butler WR, Ahearn DG, Kilburn JO (1986) High-performance liquid chromatography of mycolic acids as a tool in the identification of Corynebacterium, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, and Mycobacteriumspecies. J Clin Microbiol 23: 182–185

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butler WR, Kilburn JO (1988) Identification of major slowly growing pathogenic mycobacteria and Mycobacterium gordonaeby high-performance liquid chromatography of their mycolic acids. J Clin Microbiol 26: 50–53

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butler WR, Kilburn JO, Kubica GP (1987) High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of mycolic acids as an aid in laboratory identification of Rhodococcusand Nocardiaspecies. J Clin Microbiol 25: 2126–2131

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collins CH, Grange JM, Yates MD (1985) Organization and practice in tuberculosis bacteriology. Butterworths, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Conville PS, Witebsky FG (1989) Inter-bottle transfer of mycobacteria by the BACTEC 460. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 12: 401–405

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drake TA, Hindler JA, Berlin OGW, Bruckner DA (1987) Rapid identification of Mycobacterium aviumcomplex in culture using DNA probes. J Clin Microbiol 25: 1442–1445

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elias J, DeConing JP, Vorster SA, Joubert HF (1989) The rapid and sensitive diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis by the detection of tuberculostearic acid in cerebrospinal fluid using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selective ion monitoring. Clin Biochem 22: 463–467

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellner PD, Kiehn TE, Cammarata R, Hosmer M (1988) Rapid detection and identification of pathogenic mycobacteria by combining radiometric and nucleic acid probe methods. J Clin Microbiol 26: 1349–1352

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • French GL, Chan CY, Cheung SW, Teoh R, Humphries MJ, O’Mahony GO (1987a) Diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis by detection of tuberculostearic acid in cerebrospinal fluid. Lancet 1: 117–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • French GL, Chan CY, Cheung SW, Oo KT (1987b) Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis by detection of tuberculostearic acid in sputum by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. J Infect Dis 156: 356–362

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gill VJ, Park CH, Stock F, Gosey LL, Witebsky FG, Masur H (1985) Use of lysis-centrifugation (Isolator) and radiometric (BACTEC) blood culture systems for the detection of mycobacteremia. J Clin Microbiol 22: 543–546

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Good RC (1980) Isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria in the United States, 1979. J Infect Dis 142: 779–783

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Good RC (1985) Opportunistic pathogens in the genus Mycobacterium. Annu Rev Microbiol 39: 347–369

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Good RC, Snider DE Jr (1982) Isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria in the United States, 1980. J Infect Dis 146: 829–833

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Good RC, Silcox VA, Kilburn JO, Plikaytis BD (1985) Identification and drug susceptibility test results for Mycobacteriumspp. Clin Microbiol Newslett 7: 133–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins PA, Pattyn SR, Portaels F (1982) Diagnostic Bacteriology. In: Ratledge C, Stanford J (eds) The biology of the mycobacteria. Academic Press, London, pp 441–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiehn TE, Cammarata R (1986) Laboratory diagnosis of mycobacterial infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. J Clin Microbiol 24: 708–711

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kiehn TE, Edwards FF, Brannon P, Tsang AY, Maio M, Gold JWM, Whimbey E, Wong B, McClatchy JK, Armstrong D (1985) Infections caused by Mycobacterium aviumcomplex in immunocompromised patients: diagnosis by blood culture and fecal examination, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, and morphological and seroagglutination characteristics. J Clin Microbiol 21: 168–173

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kohne DE (1986) Application of DNA probe tests to the diagnosis of infectious disease. Am Clin Prod Rev 1: 20–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubica GP (1973) Differential identification of mycobacteria. VII. Key features for identification of clinically significant mycobacteria. Am Rev Respir Dis 107: 9–21

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kubica GP (1984) Clinical microbiology. In: Kubica GP, Wayne LG (eds) The mycobacteria: a sourcebook. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 133–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert MA, Moss CW, Silcox VA, Good RC (1986) Analysis of mycolic acid cleavage products and cellular fatty acids of Mycobacteriumspecies by capillary gas chromatography. J Clin Microbiol 23: 731–736

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson L, Mardh P-A, Odham G (1979) Detection of tuberculostearic acid in mycobacteria and Nocardiae by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring. J Chromatogr 163: 221–224

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson L, Mardh P-A, Odhman G, Westerdahl G (1980) Detection of tuberculostearic acid in biological specimens by means of glass capillary gas chromatography-electron and chemical ionization mass spectrometry, utilizing selected ion monitoring. J Chromatogr 182: 402–408

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson L, Mardh P-A, Odham G, Westerdahl G (1981), Use of selected ion monitoring for detection of tuberculostearic and C32 mycocerosic acid in mycobacteria and in five-day-old cultures of sputum specimens from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Acta Path Microbiol Scand, Sect B 89: 245–251

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson L, Odham G, Westerdahl G, Olsson B (1987) Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis by selected-ion monitoring: improved analysis of tuberculostearate in sputum using negative-ion mass spectrometry. J Clin Microbiol 25: 893–896

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laszlo A, Handzel V (1986) Radiometric diagnosis of mycobacteria. Eur J Clin Microbiol 5: 152–155

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maliwan N, Reid RW, Pliska SR, Bird TJ, Zvetina JR (1988) Identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosiscultures by gas-liquid chromatography and a computer-aided pattern recognition model. J Clin Microbiol 26: 182–187

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mann MD, Macfarlane CM, Verburg CJ, Eiggelinkhuizen J (1982) The bromide partition test and CSF adenosine deaminase activity in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children. S Afr Med J 62: 431–433

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mardth P-A, Larsson L, Holby N, Engback HC, Odham G (1983) Tuberculostearic acid as a diagnostic marker in tuberculous meningitis. Lancet 1: 367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Middlebrook G, Reggiardo Z, Tigertt WD (1977) Automatable radiometric detection of growth of Mycobacteriumtuberculosis in selective media. Am Rev Respir Dis 115: 1066–1069

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Minnikin DE, Goodfellow M (1980) Lipid composition in the classification and identification of acid-fast baceria. In: Goodfellow M, Board RG (eds) Microbiological classification and identification. Academic Press, London, pp 189–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Minnikin DE, Goodfellow M, Collins MD (1978) Lipid composition in the classification and identification of coryneform and related taxa. In: Bousfield IJ, Callely AG (eds) Coryneform bacteria. Academic Press, London, pp 85–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Minnikin DE, Hutchinson IG, Caldicott AB, Goodfellow M (1980) Thin-layer chromatography of methanolysates of mycolic acid-containing bacteria. J Chromatogr 188: 221–233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan MA, Doerr KA, Hempel HO, Goodman NLK, Roberts GD (1985) Evaluation of the p-nitro-a-acetylamino-ß-hydroxy-propiophenone differential test for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex. J Clin Microbiol 21: 634–635

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Musial CE, Tice LS, Stockman L, Roberts GD (1988) Identification of mycobacteria from culture by using Gen-Probe rapid diagnostic system for Mycobacterium aviumcomplex and Mycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex. J Clin Microbiol 26: 2120–2123

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ocana I, Martinez-Vazquez JM, Ribera E, Segura RM, Pascual C (1986) Adenosine deaminase activity in the diagnosis of lymphocytic pleural effusions of tuberculous, neoplastic and lymphomatous origin. Tubercle 67: 141–145

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Padgitt PH, Moshier SE (1987) Mycobacterium poriferae sp. nov., a scotochromogenic, rapidly growing species isolated from a marine sponge. Int J Syst Bacteriol 37:186–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ribera E, Martinez-Vazquez JM, Ocana I, Segura RM, Pascual C (1987) Activity of adenosine deaminase in cerebrospinal fluid for the diagnosis and follow-up of tuberculous meningitis in adults. J Infect Dis 155: 603–607

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts GD, Goodman NL, Heifets L, Larsh HW, Lindner TH, McClatchy JK, McGinnis MR, Siddiqi SH, Wright P (1983) Evaluation of the BACTEC radiometric method for recovery of mycobacteria and drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosisfrom acid-fast smear-positive specimens. J Clin Microbiol 18: 689–696

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salfinger M, Kafader FM, Hardegger U, Wust J (1988) identification of contaminants during primary isolation of mycobacteria in the BACTEC system with the antimicrobial supplement PACT. Zentralbl Bakteriol Hyg A 268:209–212

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salfinger M, Stool EW, Piot D, Heifets L (1988) Comparison of three methods for recovery of Mycobacterium aviumcomplex from blood specimens. J Clin Microbiol 26: 1225–1226

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Segura RM, Pascual C, Ocana I, Martinez-Vasquez JM, Ruiz RI, Pelegri MD (1989) Adenosine deaminase in body fluids: a useful diagnostic tool in tuberculosis. Clin Biochem 22: 141–148

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smithwick RW (1976) Laboratory manual for acid-fast microscopy, 2nd edn. US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta

    Google Scholar 

  • Snider DE Jr, Good RC, Kilburn JO, Laskowski LF Jr, Lusk RH, Marr JJ, Reggiardo Z, Middlebrook G (1981) Rapid drug-susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Am Rev Respir Dis 123: 402–406

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsukamura M, Yano I, Imaeda T (1986) Mycobacterium moriokaense sp. nov., a rapidly growing nonphotochromogenic Mycobacterium. Int J Syst Bacteriol 36:333–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wayne LG (1979) The “atypical” mycobacteria: recognition and disease association. Crit Rev Microbiol 12: 185–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wayne LG, Kubica GP (1986) Genus MycobacteriumLehmann and Neumann 1896. In: Sneath PHA, Mair DNS, Sharpe ME, Holt JG (eds) Bergy’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, vol 2. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 1436–1457

    Google Scholar 

  • Wayne LG, Engbaek HC, Engel HWB, Froman S, Gross W, Hawkins J, Kappler W, Karlson AG, Kleeberg HH, Krasnow I, Kubica GP, McDurmont C, Nel EE, Pattyn SR, Schroder KH, Showalter S, Tarnok I, Tsukamura M, Vergmann B, Wolinsky E (1974) Highly reproducible techniques for use in systematic bacteriology in the genus Mycobacterium: tests for pigment, urease, resistance to sodium chloride, hydrolysis of Tween 80, and p-galactosidase. Int J Syst Bacteriol 24: 412–419

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wayne LG, Engel HWB, Grassi C, Gross W, Hawkins J, Jenkins PA, Kappler W, Kleeberg HH, Krasnow I, Nel EE, Pattyn SR, Richards PA, Showalter S, Slosarek M, Szabo I, Tarnok I, Tsukamura M, Vergkmann B, Wolinsky E (1976) Highly reproducible techniques for use in systematic bacteriology in the genus Mycobacterium: tests for niacin and catalase and for resistance to isoniazid, thiophene 2-carboxylic acid hydrazide, hydroxylamine and p-nitrobenzoate. Int J Syst Bacteriol 26: 311–318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woodley CL, Silcox VA, Floyd MM, Kubica GP (1989) The use of DNA probes for rapidly identifying cultures of Mycobacterium. In: Kleger B, Jungkind D, Hinks E, Miller LA (eds) Rapid methods in clinical microbiology: present status and future trends. Plenum, New York, pp 51–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Young LS (1988) Mycobacterium avium complex infection. J Infect Dis 157:863–867

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young LS, Inderlied CB, Berlin OG, Gottlieb MS (1986) Mycobacterial infections in AIDS patients, with an emphasis on the Mycobacterium aviumcomplex. Rev Infect Dis 8: 1024–1033

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Bacterial Diseases, Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Respiratory Diseases Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, 30333, USA

    R. C. Good

Authors
  1. R. C. Good
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, SF-00290, Helsinki, Finland

    Antti Vaheri

  2. North American Laboratory Group, 1 Lake Street, 06052, New Britain, CT, USA

    Richard C. Tilton

  3. 105 Bay Colt Road, 30201, Alpharetta, GA, USA

    Albert Balows

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Good, R.C. (1991). Current Methods for Rapid Detection and Identification of Mycobacteria. In: Vaheri, A., Tilton, R.C., Balows, A. (eds) Rapid Methods and Automation in Microbiology and Immunology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76603-9_29

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76603-9_29

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-76605-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-76603-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation