Nature 184, 1743 - 1744 (28 November 1959); doi:10.1038/1841743b0

Nicotinamidase in Mycobacteria: A Method for Distinguishing Bovine Type Tubercle Bacilli from other Mycobacteria

KIYOSHI KONNO, HIDEO NAGAYAMA & SUTEMI OKA

Research Institute for Tuberculosis and Leprosy, Tohoku University, Kitayobancho, Sendai.

BOVINE type tubercle bacilli have been differentiated from other Mycobacteria by means of growth characteristics and pathogenecity for animals. They usually grow dysgonic in its original culture and are pathogenic for guinea pigs and rabbits. However, many laboratory strains of bovine tubercle bacilli now grow eugonic and can not be differentiated from growth characteristics, and furthermore, avirulent strains of bovine type tubercle bacilli like BCG or isoniazid resistant bovine tubercle bacilli have been developed, and they can not be differentiated from animal pathogenecity. Konno et al. ^1,2 suggested simple chemical method to distinguish human tubercle bacilli from bovine tubercle bacilli or atypical Mycobacteria applying high nicotinic acid production of human tubercle bacilli. Halpern and Grossowicz³ studied nicotinamidase activity of the extracts of M. phlei and BCG and reported M. phlei revealed high nicotinamidase activity than BCG. Bönicke and Lisboa⁴ compared nicotinamidase of emulsion of human tubercle bacilli and bovine tubercle bacilli and reported high nicotinamidase of human tubercle bacilli.

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