Characterization by restriction endonuclease analysis and seroagglutination of strains of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellular obtained from farmed deer

SUMMARY Restriction endonuclease analysis and seroagglutination were used to characterize strains of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellular (collectively, mai ) recovered from 1 local herd and 2 imported shipments of red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) that developed sensitization to bovine tuberculin during skin testing. A total of 31 mai strains were isolated from lymph node pools (head, thorax, abdomen, and peripheral regions) of 21 of 29 local deer. Similarly, 15 mai strains were isolated from the lymph node pools of 12 deer from the 2 imported shipments. Mycobacterial strains were isolated from more than 1 of the lymph node pools of 9 local and 2 imported deer. Most of the strains (59% from local deer, 46% from imported deer) were recovered from the lymph nodes of the head region. After restriction endonuclease analysis of these isolates using the enzymes Bcl I, Bst EII, and Pvu II, 26 of the strains from the local herd were separated into 3 groups, each consisting of strains with indistinguishable or closely related patterns. Seroagglutination results indicated that the first of these groups contained strains belonging to serotype 1, the second group contained strains belonging to serotype 8; and the third group of strains belonged to serotypes 3 and 9. The 5 remaining strains from the local herd had unrelated restriction patterns. One of these belonged to serotype 3, whereas the remaining 4 could not be serotyped. Restriction analysis of the 15 strains from the imported deer identified 2 groups. Seroagglutination results indicated that 1 group contained strains belonging to serotype 2 and the other group contained strains belonging to serotype 8. Some deer were infected with 2 or more strains that differed in serotype and/or restriction pattern. Results indicate that a single source of infection was not apparent for either herd and that a number of mai strains may possibly have contributed to tuberculin sensitization.