A total of 339 strains of the @entity3069 -intracellulare-scrofulaceum complex were phage typed using our previously described technique and 11 typing phages. These included 235 strains of @entity1 origin obtained from state health laboratories in Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and Arkansas, 26 strains isolated from @entity1 with @entity791 , 38 strains isolated from animals, and 40 environmental isolates. A phage-typing scheme was developed that denotes sensitivity to 8 primary typing phages: the JF group (JF1, JF2, JF3, and JF4), phage D302, and the AN group ( @entity25291 , AN9, and AN1-8). The 3 auxiliary phages (VC3, VA6, and D32) define subgroups of the strains sensitive to the AN phages. A total of 99 strains were sensitive to at least 1 phage. Of 31 serotype 1 or 2 strains from animals, 13 were sensitive to AN phages but resistant to JF phages. In contrast, 7/33 serotype 4 or 8 strains from animals or from @entity1 with @entity791 were sensitive to JF phages but not to the AN phages. Of the clinical isolates not associated with @entity791 , 78/235 were phage sensitive. These strains could be divided roughly into 4 groups: sensitive to AN phages, sensitive to JF phages, sensitive to phage D302, and sensitive to multiple phages. Only 1 of the environmental isolates was phage sensitive. The results indicate that phage typing can subdivide this heterogeneous group of organisms and is a useful tool for epidemiological studies.

Phage typing of the XXXX -intracellulare-scrofulaceum complex. A study of strains of diverse geographic and host origin.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human', 'persons'] @entity791 :: ('MESH:D000163', 'Disease') :: ['AIDS'] @entity3069 :: ('1764', 'Species') :: ['Mycobacterium avium'] @entity25291 :: ('MESH:C039620', 'Chemical') :: ['AN3']
@entity3069 :: (1764,Species) :: ['Mycobacterium avium']
