Genotypic characterization of Mycobacterium avium strains recovered from animals and their comparison to human strains

Abstract

Mycobacterium avium was recovered from 21 birds and 10 pigs. Bird isolates carried IS901 and a few copies of IS1245 and appeared highly related by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Pig isolates showed features previously described in human isolates: a lack of IS901, a high copy number of IS1245, and marked polymorphism by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.